Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 25th, 2012 9:18AM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

mpeter, Avalanche Canada

South Coast.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Sunday: Expect unsettled conditions, with occasional flurries, gusty northerly winds and temperatures reaching -2. Monday & Tuesday: Predominantly dry with a mix of sun and cloud. Winds turn from northerly to southerly with temps should reach -4 each afternoon.

Avalanche Summary

We have reports of isolated natural avalanches up to size 2.5 from both the Duffey lakes and the Coquihalla areas predominantly on north aspects at or slightly above treeline. Numerous ridder triggered avalanches up to 1.5 have also been seen in the recent storm layers (top 30cm).

Snowpack Summary

In the west side of the Duffey lake region up to 20cm of new snow fell in the last 24 hours, while on the east side the values are roughly half that. The Coquihalla area received roughly 30cm. This brings the recent storm values up to 40/30/60 respectively. The southerly winds have lee loaded open treeline and alpine terrain that faces north through east. Compounding the wind slabbing, the increasing temperatures have settled much of the storm snow into a cohesive storm slab, especially at treeline and below. The new snow sits on a variety of surfaces including crusts at lower elevations, surface hoar in protected areas and hard windslabs in the alpine. Below this the lower snowpack is well bonded and strong.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Changing wind directions will create more widespread windslabbing.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 5

Persistent Slabs

Additional snow and warm temperatures continues to form storm slabs. Amounts are higher in the Coquihalla and western Duffey.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 5

Valid until: Feb 26th, 2012 8:00AM