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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 6th, 2013–Feb 7th, 2013

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

Northwest Coastal.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Thursday: Expect a mix of sun and cloud. There is a chance of low level stratus cloud close to the coast. Temperatures will be cool in the morning, but warm to around -3 with the sun’s influence. Expect light northwest winds and no precipitation.Friday: Clouds should build overnight and linger through the day. Expect flurries, focussed primarily on west facing terrain. 5-10cm are possible. Winds should turn westerly and pick up to moderate/strong values with alpine temperatures reaching -5.Saturday: Clouds linger but precipitation dissipates. Winds turn southwesterly and ease with alpine temperatures reaching around -1.

Avalanche Summary

The region has seen a natural avalanche cycle. Natural slabs and cornice falls up to size 3.0 have been reported, predominantly on north-northeasterly terrain. Many loose wet avalanches up to size 2.0 have occurred below treeline, where the recent precipitation fell as rain. Both explosive and rider controlled avalanches have also been observed up to size 2.5, predominantly in wind loaded areas. Some areas are reporting reverse loading from changing wind directions and have seen windslab failures in southeast facing terrain features.

Snowpack Summary

Recent weather has been relatively benign, with precipitation pulses giving incremental loading (5-10cm at a time). Relatively light winds have accompanied these snowfall pulses with some stronger outflow winds closer to the coast.Previous strong southwest winds gave intense snow transport and cornice growth. Extensive windslabbing in lee zones and behind ridges in the alpine and treeline was the result. Some areas saw swirling winds resulting in some cross and reverse loading on southeasterly features. These significant windslabs are now lightly buried.In the upper snowpack, a melt-freeze crust buried on Jan. 17 remains a concern. Recent compression tests show both resistent and sudden planar results and an extended column test shows a continued propensity for propagation if the layer was triggered. The Jan. 17th crust is down 60-100cm. It is certainly worth keeping this layers on your radar in regards to distribution and reactivity for the short term. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled and strong.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.

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.