http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/scond/Cond_E.asp?oID=22782&oPark=100205Keep in mind touchy windslab on alpine lee features, widespread storm slab and the Feb 10th persistent weak layer today
Weather Forecast
Cloudy with isolated flurries today and moderate west winds at ridge crest. The freezing level will come up to 1300m this afternoon. The sun may make an appearance but should be short lived. The first kiss of solar yesterday and slopes became sensitive quickly. Keep this in mind if the sun should appear this afternoon.
Snowpack Summary
Mod to strong S winds Friday night formed windslab on N'ly aspects. New snow will now veil the wind slab. Expect the wind slab to still be sensitive to human triggering. Storm slabs may be touchy given the right terrain feature. The Feb 10 persistent weak layer is down 60-100cm and may still be overloaded by other slides.
Avalanche Summary
Skier triggered size 1.5 on Little Sifton col yesterday. The skier was involved but uninjured. The slide was 25cm deep, 50m wide and ran 70m. Size 2 natural avalanche off Little Sifton peak and another size 2 natural observed off the E aspect of Abbot's ridge. Numerous size 1.5-2 avalanches in the highway corridor on mainly solar aspects yesterday.
Confidence
Due to the number and quality of field observations
Problems
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.
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.
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.