Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 18th, 2017 5:09PM

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

Avalanche Canada mgrist, Avalanche Canada

The best riding right now is probably on high north aspects, which is also where the hazard is the highest. Don't let your guard down when searching for fresh powder.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - The weather pattern is stable

Weather Forecast

We're into a fairly stable weather pattern: seasonal temperatures and scattered flurries. SUNDAY: Cloudy with light flurries (5-10cm possible), light southerly winds and freezing levels around 1400 m.MONDAY: Cloudy with light flurries, local accumulations 5-10cm, light to moderate southwesterly winds and freezing levels around 1300 m.TUESDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with flurries starting in the afternoon, light winds and freezing levels around 1300 m.

Avalanche Summary

Reports from Thursday and Friday morning include natural, ski-cut and explosives controlled 20-40 cm thick storm and wind slab avalanches up to Size 2. Explosives control also produced numerous 30-80 cm thick Size 2 deep persistent slab avalanches running on basal facets and depth hoar in previously controlled steep northeast facing terrain. Other reports include continued natural wet loose avalanche activity up to Size 2 at treeline and below. Touchy new storm slabs are sensitive to light triggers and have the potential to step down and trigger persistent slab avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

Expect to find 25-40 cm of fresh snow bonding poorly to buried surface hoar and/or a crust, and blown into deep wind slabs at higher elevations. At 2000m and below a melt-freeze crust can be found on almost all elevations and aspects. Rapidly settling storm snow from last week is still bonding poorly to the previous snow surface from early February, which is now down 60-80 cm and includes a sun crust on steep sun-exposed slopes, faceted snow, as well as surface hoar on sheltered open slopes. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 80-150 cm and the November crust is down around 200 cm.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
The fresh snow is sensitive to light triggers and particularly deep and touchy on wind-loaded slopes.
Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.Avoid freshly wind loaded features.If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs
A persistent weakness down 60-80 cm remains remains sensitive to light triggers in isolated areas. Smaller avalanches have the potential to step down to this and deeper persistent weakness resulting very large avalanches.
Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to the presence of deeply buried weak layers.Whumpfing, shooting cracks and recent avalanches are all strong indicators of unstable snowpack.Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

3 - 4

Valid until: Feb 19th, 2017 2:00PM