Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 20th, 2014 8:43AM
The alpine rating is Wind Slabs, Persistent Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeSummary
Confidence
Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain
Weather Forecast
A strong ridge of high pressure continues to dominate the weather in BC and eastern Alberta, with no significant precipitation in sight for the next week. A temperature inversion will raise temps at upper elevations and bring valley cloud to most of the area. Daytime heating will raise valley temps, but freezing levels should drop to valley bottom each night.Tuesday and Wednesday freezing levels will rise to 1400 metres in the forecast area with a possibility of flurries for Wednesday. Winds light from the west for most of the forecast period.
Avalanche Summary
No reports of recent avalanche activity in the forecast region, although sluffing continues in steep terrain, snowballing and pinwheel activity on steep solar aspects during the warmest parts of the day.
Snowpack Summary
Wind continues to redistribute surface snow throughout the region. The snowpack varies widely, but appears to be deeper in the north and east. Basal facets continue to be a concern where wind slabs and storm slabs have added load above these weak layers. The forecast very warm alpine temperatures may result in periods of rapid warming in the wind and storm slabs above weak layers. Strong solar radiation may cause moist or wet loose snow avalanches or cornice falls in the alpine resulting in large additional loads above deeply buried weak layers. Surface hoar has been reported forming on protected north and east slopes along with facetting of the surface and storm slab in protected locations. Solar aspects have begun forming sun crust in some locations.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 21st, 2014 2:00PM