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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 2nd, 2013–Feb 3rd, 2013

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

South Columbia.

Confidence

Fair - Due to variable snowpack conditions for the entire period

Weather Forecast

Overnight and Sunday: Cloudy with light Westerly winds overnight becoming strong Westerly in the afternoon. No precipitation overnight, 5-10 cms Sunday afternoon. Freezing level dropping to valley bottom overnight and up to about 1000 metres during the day.Monday: Alpine temperatures -6.0 with gusty West winds and light flurries.Tuesday: Winds shifting to Southwest as the next pulse of moisture brings 5-10 cms of snow to elevations above 1000 metres.

Avalanche Summary

The cycle of natural and skier triggered avalanches continued on Friday with the average avalanche size increasing to size 2.0. The West Monashee area near Mabel Lake was the most reactive area in the region with natural avalanches up to size 3.0. There was one skier accidental avalanche size 1.5 from the Southern Selkirks that released below treeline at 1450 metres and was 40 cms deep.

Snowpack Summary

The recent storm snow has been reported to be settling into a cohesive slab above the old surfaces that were buried on January 23rd. The storm slab is about 50 cms deep in most places and is sitting on a weak layer of surface hoar and facets at treeline and below, and in some places on an old sun crust in the alpine. Some areas in the West Monashees have a layer of heavier moist snow near the surface that may be sitting on a variable freezing rain crust that is down about 20 cms.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.