Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 6th, 2018 4:45PM

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

mbender, Avalanche Canada

South Coast.

Forecast precipitation is due to fall as snow. Avalanche danger will increase as the snowfall begins to accumulate in the coming days.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Sunday

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY: Snow, accumulations 15-25cm / Light to moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -2Â MONDAY:Â Flurries, accumulation 5-10cm / Light to moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -1Â TUESDAY: Cloudy with flurries / Light west wind / Alpine temperature -3

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity has been reported.

Snowpack Summary

On Friday January 5th the rain began to fall in earnest. By Friday evening the Strachan weather Station at 1220m had recorded 53mm of total rain fall. This rain has saturated the entire snowpack on all but the highest elevation slopes. Gradually cooling temperatures through the day on Saturday have more than likely created a crust on the surface of the snow at elevations above 1100m. Looking down into the snowpack there are a few prominent melt-freeze crusts that were buried mid-December and are now 50 to 100cm below the surface. Snowpack investigation Friday afternoon revealed rain is not pooling at these crusts with any significance.The rain has reduced the snowpack depth at 1000m to about 140cm and many early season hazards are still present at lower elevations.

Problems

Storm Slabs

20-30cm of new snow is forecast to fall through the day Monday. This new snow has come in warm, is sitting on a newly formed crust and may react as a storm slab in steep terrain or as a wind slab in wind exposed features.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

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