Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 23rd, 2019 3:22PM

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

shorton, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

Sheltered areas offer the best and safest riding, as new snow and wind has likely formed reactive slabs at upper elevations.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY NIGHT: Clear with cloudy periods, moderate east wind, alpine temperatures drop to -18 C.SUNDAY: Sunny, moderate northeast wind, alpine high temperatures around -15 C.MONDAY: Sunny, strong northeast wind, alpine high temperatures around -13 C.TUESDAY: Sunny, strong northeast wind, alpine high temperatures around -8 C.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported, but the new snow has likely formed fresh wind slabs at upper elevations. Loose dry sluffing is also possible in steep terrain.A few small wind slab avalanches were triggered by skiers and naturally on Wednesday. They were on all aspects, in steep terrain, and at treeline and alpine elevations. The slabs were generally 10 to 20 cm deep.

Snowpack Summary

The storm that began on Thursday delivered 15 to 30 cm of fluffy low density snow by Saturday morning. Winds are expected to shift from west to east over the weekend, meaning that new wind slabs will likely exist on varied aspects, as well as in cross-loaded terrain features. In sheltered areas at and below treeline, the new snow has buried pockets of feathery surface hoar crystals and soft, faceted snow.In the south of the region, the lower snowpack is well-settled. In the north of the region, around 50 cm of snow may overly a weak layer of surface hoar or faceted grains.

Problems

Wind Slabs

15-30 cm of new low density snow is being blown into reactive slabs on a variety of aspects in exposed areas. These slabs may not bond well to underlying faceted snow.

Seek out sheltered areas where the new snow is unaffected by wind.Watch for patterns of wind loading as you venture into wind affected terrain.Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 24th, 2019 2:00PM