Avalanche forecast

Northwest Inland

Jan 11 – 12, 2015Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Flurries on Tuesday with SW winds may produce wind slabs on lee slopes. If more snow than forecast arrives, use caution at treeline and above.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Wind loaded lee features remain on the radar for the time being, and a temperature crust is making the riding "interesting" at treeline and above. Watch for newly forming windslabs.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–6
    The buried storm slab should be bonding well with the mild temperatures, but still remains a serious consideration. A small avalanche could trigger this buried dense slab, and produce a large destructive avalanche.

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number and quality of field observations

Weather Forecast

An upper level trough will move into the area from the Pacific early Tuesday bringing light precipitation, with perhaps 5 to 10 cm of new snow at upper elevations. A bit of clearing on Wednesday, then more light precip. on Thursday and Friday. Winds from the S-SW.Freezing levels should remain around 500m but may spike to 2000m on Wednedsay.

Avalanche Summary

Reports from yesterday include several natural radiation triggered avalanches on steep solar aspects. No other reports of avalanche activity.

Snowpack Summary

Strong and variable winds have created soft and stiff wind slabs on varying aspects in exposed terrain. Below the recent storm snow is a rain crust at lower elevations and a temperature crust has formed in some locations from the recent temperature inversion. In the mid-pack a surface hoar layer has been reported, although it appears to be spotty in distribution. Near the bottom of the snowpack is a crust facet combo that was buried in mid-November.

Regions covered