Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 18th, 2015 7:06AM

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

pgoddard, Avalanche Canada

South Coast.

Give the recent snow a day or two to find its equilibrium before venturing into exposed avalanche terrain.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

A weak ridge provides a break from heavy precipitation, but doesn't bring clear skies, through Monday and Tuesday. The freezing level slowly falls to near 800 m and SW winds are light to moderate. On Wednesday, around 5 cm snow is expected, with gradually warming temperatures.

Avalanche Summary

Several size 2 natural wind slabs were observed in the north of the region on Saturday.

Snowpack Summary

Recent snow and strong SW winds have led to wind slabs in wind-affected terrain and storm slabs elsewhere. These overlie a hard crust and/or surface hoar. Easy and propagating results in snowpack tests show the potential for avalanches to fail at this interface below the storm snow. Wind slabs and storm slabs may be easy to trigger with the weight of a person or snowmobile. Deeper snowpack weaknesses are still on our radar, but seem to be dormant for the time being.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Recent winds have built wind slabs on lee slopes. These may be easy to trigger with the weight of a person.

Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.>Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Travel on ridgetops to avoid wind slabs on slopes below.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 5

Storm Slabs

Storm snow is showing a poor bond to the surface it fell on, meaning storm slabs may be touchy.

Choose well supported terrain without convexities.>Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 19th, 2015 2:00PM