Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 6th, 2018 4:47PM

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

mbender, Avalanche Canada

South Coast Inland.

A steady stream of light precipitation should fall as snow at upper elevations and begin to accumulate in the coming days.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Sunday

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY: Flurries, accumulations 5-15cm / moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -3 MONDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5cm / Light to moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -4 TUESDAY: Cloudy with flurries / Light west wind / Alpine temperature -3

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity to report from Friday or Saturday at the time of writing this bulletin.

Snowpack Summary

Warm temperatures likely produced a few millimeters of rain as high as 2000 m on Friday, this likely occurred throughout the region. Previous to Friday's rain event, warm alpine temperatures had allowed the upper 5 cm of the snowpack to become moist, even on upper elevation northeast facing features. As temperatures cooled Friday night into Saturday a crust has formed on the surface.On December 28th and 29th two successive storms produced 50 to 80 cm of snow. On December 29th and 30th strong to extreme winds out of the southwest, south and southeast created widespread wind effect. Time and warm temperatures allowed this snow to settle and bond well with the underlying surface. A widespread melt-freeze crust formed in mid-December may still be an issue in the northern portion of the region where it's down 50 to 100 cm below the surface, but is likely trending towards dormancy. Around the Coquihalla this interface is now thought to be part of a well bonded mid-pack. The lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Light snowfall coupled with strong winds out of the southwest will likely form wind slabs in lee terrain. These slabs may be sitting on a thin crust which could increase their sensitivity to human triggering.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 7th, 2018 2:00PM