Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 19th, 2021 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
Snow Safety,
The incoming storm will increase the avalanche hazard over the next few days.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Temperature will gradually warm up through the weekend with freezing levels reaching 1500m by Monday. Light snow begging Saturday, the intensity will increasing through Sunday, Monday with total accumulation values of up to 40cm. This new snow will be associated with strong to extreme Westerly winds.
Snowpack Summary
Extensive wind effect and isolated, thin wind-slabs throughout the alpine. At tree-line and below the snowpack is well settled except the surface snow which is facetted and sluffs in steep terrain. A facet and sun crust layer buried Jan 27 persists at treeline down 30-40 cm.
Avalanche Summary
No new natural avalanches observed or reported today. Thursday, Sunshine ski patrol triggered a very large cornice that initiated a size 2.5 persistent slab. General local ski hills continue to initiate small wind slabs to size 1 with ski cuts and explosive.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
Stronger winds will add to the wind effect in the alpine and create small wind-slabs in lee terrain. This problem will continue to develop as we see an increase in snow and wind over the weekend.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could trigger slabs.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 20th, 2021 4:00PM
