Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 9th, 2015 7:37AM

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

Peter, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

The weather pattern is fairly stable but watch for thin fresh wind slabs and lingering hard wind slabs in wind exposed terrain.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Synopsis: There’s a chance of flurries tonight and Saturday morning as a weak frontal system brushes the Northwest. We should see a drying trend on Saturday and a mix of sun and cloud throughout the weekend. The freezing level remains at valley bottom and ridge winds are generally light from the SW. We could see increasing cloud on Monday as another Pacific system approaches. This could bring moderate precipitation, but it’s arrival looks more likely on Monday night or Tuesday.

Avalanche Summary

There are no new reports of natural avalanches. On Wednesday, a natural size 2 storm slab was reported in the south of the region and isolated natural wind slabs from steep terrain to size 1.5 were reported in the north of the region.

Snowpack Summary

A thin melt-freeze crust now covers the 40-80 cm of recent storm snow up to at least treeline. Strong and variable winds may have created soft or stiff wind slabs on a variety of aspects in exposed terrain. Below the storm snow may be a rain crust at lower elevations. In the mid-pack you may find a surface hoar layer, although it appears to be spotty in distribution. Near the bottom of the snowpack is a crust facet combo that was buried in mid-November.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Strong and variable winds have created dense wind slabs in exposed lee terrain and may have cross-loaded gully features.

Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>Choose well supported terrain without convexities.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

Heavy triggers like cornice falls or smaller avalanches have the potential to trigger one of the deeper persistent weak layers. These layers were most reactive in the north of the region recently.

Use caution around convexities, ridge crests, rock outcroppings and anywhere else with a thin or variable snowpack.>Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 6

Valid until: Jan 10th, 2015 2:00PM