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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 21st, 2014–Jan 22nd, 2014

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

Regions

Sea To Sky.

Confidence

Fair

Weather Forecast

Synopsis: The ridge continues to dominate the weather pattern. No snow for the foreseeable future on the South Coast.Wednesday: Freezing Level: 1500m; Precip: Nil; Wind: Light, VariableThursday: Freezing Level: 3200m Precip: Nil Wind: Light, NorthFriday: Freezing Level: 3000m Precip: Nil Wind: Light, NE

Avalanche Summary

No significant new observations Sat, Sun or Monday.

Snowpack Summary

Unseasonably warm daytime temperatures have left the snow surface in rough shape. A crust can be found on steep solar aspects to ridge top and on all aspects below 1600m. The crust has been breaking down when subjected to direct sun and still air. Previous winds have scoured windward slopes and sculpted sastrugi (raised ridges of snow) in exposed areas. Average treeline snowpack depths are around 170 cm. Initially, the bond below the most recent storm snow was reported to be weak and comprised surface hoar, at least in some locations. Recent snowpack tests indicate that this layer has gained strength and it is difficult to find a shear within the top 100 cm of the snowpack.There are two lower layers that professionals area tracking near the base of the snowpack. A facet/crust combo from late November is still giving "sudden" results in compression tests and exists at treeline and alpine elevations. Facets still exist at the base of the snowpack, and are especially robust in alpine features where there was a shallow early season snowpack.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.