Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 7th, 2015 9:11AM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Loose Wet.

Avalanche Canada ghelgeson, Avalanche Canada

While danger ratings are coming down, the snowpack needs time to adjust to the weight of the warm wet snow and strong winds.

Summary

Confidence

Fair

Weather Forecast

On Sunday the freezing level is expected to remain around 2000m. Only a few mm of precipitation are expected. Upper elevation winds should back off from Strong SW to moderate South Sunday afternoon. Looks like the freezing level will drop to 1500m Sunday night. Only very small amounts of precipitation are expected Monday and Tuesday.

Avalanche Summary

On Friday we received reports of avalanches running to size 3 both naturally and with explosive control work on all aspects at and above treeline in the northern portion of the region. Loose wet avalanches were intentionally triggered to size 1.5 at and below treeline. In the south a natural cycle of loose wet avalanches to size 2 was observed on steep headwall features. Several glide avalanches to size 2 were also observed from steep rock features.

Snowpack Summary

The wet warm storm has produced 20 to as much as 80cm of snow above 2200m in the north. The snow is wet below 2000m and saturated below treeline. Moderate to strong winds out of the SW through SE have likely formed deep slabs at upper elevations. In the Southern portion of the region it sounds like a bit of cooling produced 15 cm of new snow Friday night, previously rain had fallen to ridgetop. All the new snow rests on the early February rain crust, and most of the avalanche activity has been on said crust. I have not heard of anything running below the crust at this point.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
Storm slabs are likely trending towards wet slabs, or at least moist slabs at all elevations. New snow Saturday night should keep them touchy. Recent activity has had good propagation and I don't expect that to change Sunday.
The new snow will require a bit of time to settle and stabilize.>Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, avalanches running on the thick crust may run further than you think.>Slopes receiving direct sun for the first time since the storm could produce natural avalanches.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 6

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet
Loose snow avalanches will likely remain a problem Sunday. While they may be slow moving, they can be quite powerful especially in confined spaces like creek beds and gulley features.
Be very cautious with gully features.>Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 8th, 2015 2:00PM