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Avalanche Forecast

Feb 10th, 2012–Feb 11th, 2012
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Northwest Coastal.

Confidence

Good - -1

Weather Forecast

Saturday: Should stay dry with clouds and light winds that will pick up in the afternoon. Freezing level around 900 m. Overnight Saturday: light precipitation with 5-10 mm expected. Strong southerly winds. Sunday: Lingering flurries, otherwise dry with high pressure building. Freezing level around 700 m. Monday: Dry and sunny. Light winds.

Avalanche Summary

Isolated cornice releases have been reported from this region that have mostly not triggered a slab on the slope below. One that did pull a slab was from Monday or Tuesday this week, and was suspected to have released down to the Jan-20 facet layer.

Snowpack Summary

Approximately 5 cm of new snow at treeline and above has buried a surface hoar layer (crystal size reported to be 1-4 mm) lying on old surfaces comprising crusts and variable wind slabs. The crusts formed in response to successive melt-freeze cycles and are harder and thicker the lower in elevation you go. The wind slabs were deposited on a variety of aspects and are becoming increasingly stubborn and difficult to trigger. Deeper within the snowpack, a facet layer buried around Jan 20th is the greatest concern. This layer lies approximately 110-140 cm below the surface and still exhibits hard, sudden planar results in isolated snowpack tests. Avalanches have occasionally been failing on this layer with large triggers such as cornices.

Avalanche Problems

Cornices

Large cornices are looming over some slopes, and could act as a trigger for large, deep avalanches if they collapse.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 3 - 6