Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 9th, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.
Catherine Brown,
Avalanche hazard will rise on Thursday, with high freezing levels. Natural avalanches are possible and rider triggered avalanches are likely, especially if the clouds break and the sun feels intense.
Summary
Weather Forecast
A drying trend will continue into the weekend, with a mix of sun and cloud.
Thursday: Cloud and Sun, with Flurries, Fz lvl: possible up to 2100 m, Winds west 35-50 km/h
Friday: Sun and cloud, Fz lvl: 1100 m, Winds west 15-30 km/h
Saturday: Sun and cloud, Fz lvl: 1700 m, Winds west 10-25 km/h
Snowpack Summary
New snow today covers a variety of surfaces, including wind slabs and sun crusts. Strong southerly winds on Monday loaded lee terrain features at all elevations. Sun crusts formed on steep SE-SW terrain. The Jan 29th SH layer is buried ~50-80cm depending on asp and elev. This persistent weak layer is still reactive where it hasn't failed.
Avalanche Summary
Natural Activity Today:
Several reports of skier triggered avalanches on the Jan 29 Surface Hoar Layer in the past few days.
Bonney Moraines - 3 skier accidental, MIN, MIN, MCR, and an additional Sz 1.5 with a partial burial.
Monday: Dome exit skier triggered multiple small slides on the SH layer,
Confidence
Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain
Problems
Persistent Slabs
The Jan 29th SH layer is buried down 50-80cm depending on aspect and elev. This weak layer is still reactive where it hasn't failed - this includes lower angle terrain. Several skier accidentals have occurred recently on this layer.
- Whumphing, shooting cracks and recent avalanches are all strong indicators of an unstable snowpack.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Strong south/southwest winds and new snow Monday have formed fresh wind slabs at all elevations. If the snow surface feels stiff, you're standing on a wind slab. Evaluate wind loaded areas carefully.
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 10th, 2022 4:00PM
