Avalanche forecast

Northwest Coastal

Jan 29 – 30, 2012Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
3 · Considerable
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Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–6
    Wind slabs may be found on many slopes. I expect them to gain strength quite quickly. I expect less natural activity on Monday but conditions remain primed for human triggered slides.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–6
    Weaknesses exist within and below the deep storm snow. Like the wind slabs, I expect them to stabilize, however this could take some time, especially on steep slopes, unsupported slopes, and convex rolls.

Confidence

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Sunday should see a slight cooling trend we expect the snowfall to end on Monday morning. A zonal flow is forecast through Wednesday with moderate to strong westerly winds and short-lived disturbances delivering 5 to 10 cm of snow each day, especially on the west (upslope) side of the ranges. Freezing level should remain near valley floors. Wednesday could see heavier precipitation once the next major system hits the coast; however current thinking is this will not happen until Wednesday evening.

Avalanche Summary

Natural avalanches from low elevation avalanche paths were reported Saturday, as were small slides in the storm snow from outside the highway corridor. No reports for Sunday. Poor visibility is limiting field observations.

Snowpack Summary

Professionals around Terrace are losing track of storm snow amounts, in part because their automatic stations are buried by the 5 plus metre snowpack. Winds with the storm mean wind slabs on lee and cross-loaded terrain. Most snowpack concerns are limited to the surface layers, however deeper in the snowpack are a couple of layers of old facets & maybe a crust which still POP in stability tests at treeline and below treeline elevations in cutblocks and roadbanks.

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