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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 24th, 2014–Feb 25th, 2014

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

South Rockies.

Don't let the good weather lure you into high risk scenarios. Conditions remain tricky.With clear, sunny skies the avalanche danger will likely increase.

Confidence

Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Weather Forecast

The strong arctic ridge will continue to push modified arctic air across the region. Clear and dry conditions will persist until Thursday. Some unstable disturbances are embedded in this flow, bringing scattered cloud and light precipitation on Thursday/ FridayTuesday: Sunny. Alpine temperatures -8.0. Ridgetop winds are light from the north..Wednesday: Sunny. Alpine temperatures near -2.0. Ridgetop winds light from the northwest. Freezing levels 1600 m.Thursday: Cloudy with snow amounts near 5 cm. Alpine temperatures near -4.0. Ridgetop winds moderate from the northwest. Freezing levels 1500 m.

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday, we received a report of a snowmobile triggered a size 3 slab avalanche in the Coal Creek area (Notch). It sounds like 7 sledders were involved and all self rescued. The avalanche was on a North aspect and the crown was 1-2 m deep. On Friday, the SR field team witnessed several large snowmobile remote triggered slab avalanches in the Elk Valley North. These avalanches were all triggered below treeline around 1800 m. On Thursday, a natural size 2.5 avalanche occurred near the Coal Creek road. The debris just reached the road, didn't block it but the air blast covered the road with branches.Wind loading and sunshine are forecast, which means natural avalanche activity will likely increase, especially on southerly aspects.Check out the South Rockies Blog to view photos of the remote triggered avalanches that were witnessed on Friday. It displays how sensitive and reactive the persistent weak layer continues to be. Finding safe areas to ride, and choosing the most appropriate terrain is very tricky given the current conditions.

Snowpack Summary

Large cornices loom over slopes and wind slabs are building on leeward aspects. The recent storm snow is up to a metre thick and remains touchy. This slab continues to settle and become more cohesive, overlying a complex medley of persistent weak layers (mainly facets and some surface hoar). The weak layers are widespread on all aspects and at all elevations across the region. This is the classic firm slab over weak layer that allows for wide propagations and remote triggering. This problem may persist for days or even weeks. The mid-pack is strong and supportive. A deep persistent layer of facets and depth hoar near the base of the snowpack has remained dormant to this point, but may become a concern with additional load and stress on the snowpack.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.