Date issued

Feb 15, 2018 - 4:00 PM

Valid until

Feb 16, 2018 - 4:00 PM

Prepared by

landon shepherd

Take the time to carefully evaluate newly accessed terrain, large avalanches have been widespread over most aspects and elevations this week over the entire forecast area.

Regular season
Friday - February 16, 2018
Alpine

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation,cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible;human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

Treeline

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation,cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible;human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

Below Treeline

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Saturday - February 17, 2018
Alpine

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation,cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible;human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

Treeline

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation,cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible;human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

Below Treeline

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Sunday - February 18, 2018
Alpine

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation,cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible;human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

Treeline

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation,cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible;human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

Below Treeline

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs

What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?

Variable and strong upper elevation winds are continuing to create fresh windslabs.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Variable winds have created pockets of wind slab on all aspects.
  • Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.

Avalanche Problem 2: Deep Persistent Slabs

What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?

Persistent slabs remain a problem. Areas exposed to large triggers such as cornices or smaller avalanches / sloughing from above are most likely to trigger this midpack weakness.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Be wary of slopes that did not previously avalanche
  • Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger deep slabs.

Avalanche Summary

Isolated windslab avalanches (likely failing on a persistent mid snowpack weakness, and up to size 2.5) were observed today in the Tonquin valley. East, South, and North aspects have formed windslabs and large cornices that have failed in the last 24 hrs in the north portion of the forecast zone.

Snowpack Summary

The past week's storm snow has been redistributed by strong, variable direction winds. Where snow remains, new wind slabs overlie a settled upper snowpack which is sitting on the persistent weak layers in the mid snowpack. Widespread avalanche activity on these weak layers followed last week's storm, slopes without recent avalanches are suspect.

Weather Forecast

The edge of a series of troughs from the Aleutian Pacific region are being brought SE'ward through the forecast zone but are being kept mostly at bay by cold arctic air. Flurries are expected overnight but should result in less than 10cm of new snow. Clearing expected by the end of the weekend and into next week with sunshine and cold nights.

Danger Ratings Explained

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

4 - High

Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended.

Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely.

Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas.

5 - Extreme

Avoid all avalanche terrain.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain.

Large to very large avalanches in many areas.

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