Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 27th, 2021 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Avalanche Canada ahanna, Avalanche Canada

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Light snowfall continues to accumulate snow over a hard crust. Slab avalanches in the new snow are most likely to be triggered in wind loaded terrain features.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.

Weather Forecast

Saturday night: Light snow, around 5 cm. Freezing level 500 m. Light southwest wind below 1500m, moderate to strong west-northwest wind around 2000 m.

Sunday: Light snow, around 5 cm. Freezing level 1100 m. Light southwest wind increasing to moderate.

Monday: Light snow, around 10 cm. Freezing level 1000 m. Strong southwest winds affecting all elevations.

Tuesday: Flurries. Freezing level 500 m. Light southwest wind.

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, skier triggered storm slab avalanches size 1-2 were reported on all aspects. The new snow is sitting on a hard rain crust and may remain reactive to human triggers; especially in wind loaded features.

Snowpack Summary

5-10 cm of new snow brings recent snow totals to 20-30 cm on top of a hard rain crust that exists all the way to the tops of the North Shore mountains. These storm slabs are most likely to be reactive where they are wind affected.

The snowpack below the rain crust is well settled and strong in most areas.

Watch North Shore Rescue's latest snowpack update here.

Terrain and Travel

  • Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind exposed terrain.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
  • Keep in mind the crust offers an excellent bed surface for avalanches.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Winds blew hard from the southwest then turned northwest leaving exposed areas highly variable. The recent snow sits above a hard crust and could be easily triggered where wind deposits exist.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, North West.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 28th, 2021 4:00PM