Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 17th, 2017 4:06PM
The alpine rating is Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeThe 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 - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Saturday
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY: Cloudy with flurries bringing another 10-15 cm overnight, particularly in the southern part of the region, accompanied by light winds and freezing levels around 1300 m.SUNDAY: Cloudy with light flurries bringing another 5 cm, light southerly winds and freezing levels around 1400 m.MONDAY: Cloudy with light flurries bringing another 5-10 cm, moderate southwesterly wind and freezing level around 1400 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 lower elevations the snow surface is wet and cohesionless and should soon freeze into a solid crust. 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
The fresh snow is sensitive to light triggers and particularly deep and touchy on wind-loaded slopes.
If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.Avoid freshly wind loaded features.Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
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.
Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.Whumpfing, shooting cracks and recent avalanches are all strong indicators of unstable snowpack.Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to the presence of deeply buried weak layers.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 18th, 2017 2:00PM