Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 18th, 2019 8:08AM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Dry.

ross campbell, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Skier triggered and natural avalanches are still occurring in the Alpine on specific terrain features.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Mainly cloudy today, we should see an alpine high of -15, and light winds. Flurries tonight and into tomorrow with total accumulations of 5cm. No significant snow for the long term forecast either, as a High-Pressure system dictates our weather pattern for the foreseeable future.

Snowpack Summary

15cm of storm snow covers hard wind slabs in the alpine and exposed areas of tree line. In sheltered areas at and below tree line the storm snow is covering surface hoar and facets. The Jan 17 surface hoar is down 50-70cm at TL and below. the mid and lower snowpack is well settled and strong.

Avalanche Summary

Yesterday the sun triggered several size 1-2 loose dry avalanches on steep terrain features, on solar aspects in the alpine. Artillery control also produced avalanches to size 2.5 in steep North facing in the alpine. One group traveling up the Illecillewaet remote triggered a size 1 wind slab, and observed a natural size 2.5 on Glacier Crest(min).

Confidence

Due to the quality of field observations

Problems

Wind Slabs

Previous strong winds have hammered the alpine and exposed areas at tree line, making for challenging travel conditions. Slabs vary from hard and supportive to pockets of wind-loaded facets. At lower elev slabs could propagate on buried surface hoar.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Loose Dry

15cm of new snow and surface facets are sluffing fast in steep alpine terrain. Be very cautious of being hit by these loose avalanches while moving in gullies and confined terrain. Sun-warmed cliffs can shed snow quickly, triggered loose avalanches.

Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain, particularly where the debris flows into terrain traps.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 19th, 2019 8:00AM