Avalanche forecast

South Coast Inland

Feb 20 – 21, 2017Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Watch for lingering wind slabs in high north facing terrain and wet sluffing on steep sun exposed slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Reactive wind slabs may still be lingering in high north facing terrain. Large lingering cornices may also still be weak and could fail under the weight of a person.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    It may be possible to trigger wet sluffs on steep sun exposed slopes during the heat of the afternoon.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported on Saturday or Sunday. On Friday, a size 3 persistent slab avalanche was observed up the Hurley at treeline elevation and likely failed on the weak layer from early February.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

A mix of sun and cloud is expected on Tuesday with possibility of isolated flurries. Alpine wind is expected to be light to moderate from the west and afternoon freezing levels are forecast to reach around 1000 m. Similar conditions are expected for Wednesday and Thursday with a mix of sun and cloud, light alpine wind, and treeline temperatures around -10C.

Snowpack Summary

At higher elevations, 15-30 cm of recent snow overlies the widespread mid-February crust layer. Recent reports suggest this snow is well bonded to the crust.  Wind slabs and cornices were recently being reported in high north facing alpine terrain. Below around 1800 m, the crust is at or near the snow surface and is reported to be solid and supportive to the weight of a skier. In the north of the region, a facet/surface hoar layer from early February down 60-100 cm is still reactive in snowpack tests but would be very difficult to trigger without something heavy like a cornice fall or smaller avalanche stepping down.

Regions covered