Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 30th, 2014 8:07AM

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

triley, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Coastal.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Overnight and Friday: Moderate Northwest winds with strong outflow winds. Mostly clear with alpine temperatures around -10 C. Freezing levels down to valley bottoms.Saturday: Mix of sun and cloud with periods of very light precipitation. Alpine temperatures -15 C.Sunday: Mostly sunny with light Northerly winds and no precipitation.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches reported.

Snowpack Summary

Strong East-Northeast winds overnight may have transported any loose snow that was left on North aspects. Below freezing temperatures have developed a solid melt-freeze crust at all elevations and on most aspects. A couple of cm of new snow is now on top of the crust and/or facets and surface hoar that developed during the recent clear weather. A well settled mid and lower snowpack may rest on basal facets, especially in thin snowpack areas at higher elevations.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Strong winds may have developed pockets of thin hard windslab.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deeply buried weak facetted crystals continue to be a concern on slopes with a shallow snowpack.

Avoid open slopes and convex rolls at and below treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.>Avoid convexities or areas with a thin, rocky or variable snowpack.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

4 - 7

Valid until: Jan 31st, 2014 2:00PM