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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 10th, 2013–Feb 11th, 2013

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Coast.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Synopsis: A series of frontal systems are expected to bring generally light precipitation to the region through the forecast period.Monday: Flurries. Freezing level around 900m. NW winds gusting to 40 km/h at ridgetop.Tuesday: Around 5cm new snow. Freezing level around 1200m in the afternoon. Westerly winds gusting to 60 km/h at ridgetop.Wednesday: Flurries or light snow in the morning, mostly dry in the afternoon. Freezing level around 600m. Light NW winds.

Avalanche Summary

Cornice releases in the alpine and a glide crack release at low elevation (all size 2) were reported in response to warm temperatures. Loose wet avalanches were also reported on steep solar aspects.

Snowpack Summary

Around 30-40cm new snow fell on average during recent storms, which ended on Friday. The Coquihalla area received a little more (up to 65 cm). Consistent southwesterly winds during the storm period redistributed the new snow into wind slabs and grew cornices on lee terrain features in the alpine and at treeline. The recently buried surfaces (Feb 3rd interface) are old wind slabs (behind ridges, ribs and on lee slopes) and sun crusts (on south and west facing slopes). In isolated locations, this interface comprises small surface hoar crystals. Down a further 20-50 cm sits a persistent interface comprising of crusts, facets and surface hoar crystals. This layer is now mostly unreactive, with only one  size 2 avalanche reported (on Feb 6th) since the end of January. If it were to be triggered again, the most likely spot would be a steep convex roll on a sheltered north aspect slope around treeline. A recent Rutchblock test gave a score of 6 with a partial block release in the Duffey Lake area. The mid and lower snowpack pack layers are generally well settled.

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.