Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 6th, 2016 8:09AM

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

istorm, Avalanche Canada

South Coast.

Assess local conditions, especially at alpine elevations, because of unusual wind directions.

Summary

Confidence

High

Weather Forecast

The trend over the next few days is for drying, slightly cooler temperatures, and light winds (except for NE or E outflow winds near the coast or big mountain passes). Only traces of new snow are expected between now and the end of the weekend. Cloud cover should diminish to where there is a good chance of more sun than cloud during the weekend. Thursday temperatures near treeline should be a few degrees below freezing, but then it is expected to cool down to -10 to -15 C during the weekend. Light winds from the NE or East through Friday. For more information go to www.avalanche.ca/weather

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported.

Snowpack Summary

Storm snow with generally 5 to 10 cm, with maybe 15cm in the odd location in the past couple of days. The fresh snow covers old surfaces including: melt-freeze crust on solar aspects in the alpine, wind drifted snow in exposed higher elevation terrain, and well-developed surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline and below. Winds were strong enough on Tuesday that soft wind slabs are possible at high-elevation in terrain lee to southerly winds. The mid and lower snowpack is generally strong.

Problems

Wind Slabs

There was just enough new snow and wind for fresh pockets of wind slabs, some may be in unexpected places due to unusual wind directions.

Watch for changing conditions as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Be extra cautious in areas that were reverse loaded by winds.>Minimize exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 7th, 2016 2:00PM