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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 5th, 2014–Feb 6th, 2014

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Northwest Coastal.

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Confidence

Fair

Weather Forecast

A strong arctic ridge remains over the interior creating outflow conditions along the coast. Clear and cold conditions persist. Thursday: Clear and sunny, treeline temperatures around -20C, mountaintop winds 40km/h SE in the morning decreasing during the dayFriday/Saturday: Clear and sunny, treeline temperatures around -20C, mountaintop winds light-to-moderate variable

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, 2 size 1 avalanches were reported in the north of the region.  The first was a natural wind slab on a steep NW aspect. The second was a small skier triggered slab on a steep moraine feature with faceted snow.

Snowpack Summary

Thin windslabs may still exist in isolated leeward features on a variety of aspects at treeline and in the alpine while wind-exposed features have become heavily scoured. Recent cold temperatures and clear skies are causing faceting of the upper snowpack which should be causing the remaining wind slabs to break-down. In more sheltered areas, several centimetres of dry snow may overlie a melt-freeze crust, surface hoar, facets, or a combination of the above. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well consolidated and there are currently no layers of concern. However, weak basal facets may still be a concern in isolated areas, especially thin snowpack areas at higher elevations.

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.