Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 9th, 2013 8:41AM

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

pgoddard, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to limited field observations

Weather Forecast

Thursday: Moderate NW winds. Alpine temperature near -7. No snow.Friday: Moderate SW wind. Alpine temperature near -5. 5 cm snow, late in the day.Saturday: Light W wind. Alpine temperature near -9. Around 5 cm snow.

Avalanche Summary

Snowmobilers witnessed naturally-triggered slabs and loose dry sluffs in the Seaton Basin on Monday. We have had no reports from anyone in the field since then. Please tell us what you're seeing at forecaster@avalanche.ca

Snowpack Summary

Light amounts of snow are sitting over a weak, faceted old snow surface, which is causing loose dry sluffing in steep terrain. In wind-affected areas, wind slabs have formed behind terrain breaks such as ridges and ribs. A strong mid-pack overlies a weak base layer of facets and the remnants of a crust.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Be alert for new wind slabs behind terrain breaks such as ridges, ribs and gully walls.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

A deeply buried facet/crust weakness exists near the base of the snowpack. This layer could be triggered by large loads such as a cornice collapse or from a thin-spot trigger point.

Avoid thin, rocky or sparsely-treed slopes.>Be aware of thin areas that may propagate to deeper instabilites.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 5

Valid until: Jan 10th, 2013 2:00PM