Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 4th, 2014 8:07AM

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

triley, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Coastal.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Freezing levels are uncertain

Weather Forecast

Sunday: Partly cloudy with sunny breaks. Warm air in the alpine, above freezing to about 2000 metres. Strong Southwest winds.Monday: Strong Southwest winds becoming moderate Westerly. Warm air is expected to remain in the alpine with freezing levels around 1700 metres.Tuesday: Mostly cloudy with light Southwest winds and seasonal alpine temperatures.

Avalanche Summary

Explosive control in the Ningunsaw area released from size 1.5 dry slab up to one size 3.5 that released or stepped down to the ground. Natural avalanches up to size 2.5 that ran during the storm were reported from flights through remote areas.

Snowpack Summary

In general the snowpack seems shallower and more faceted in the northern part of the region, and deeper with more wind and storm slab problems in the south. A significant amount of recent storm snow is settling rapidly, but will likely remain unstable for at least a few days after the weather clears. However, persistent weaknesses including facets and surface hoar buried near the end of December, will likely remain primed for triggering. Basal facets remain a concern in shallow snowpack areas and an overlying snowpack structure favoring step-down fractures can contribute to the persistence of this deep slab problem.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Strong winds have developed hard wind slabs in the lee of alpine and treeline features.

Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.>Watch for areas of hard wind slab in steep alpine features.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Persistent Slabs

Buried surface hoar and deeply buried facets near the ground continue to be a concern in the North of the region where the snowpack is generally shallow and weak.

Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.>Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches due to the presence of buried weak layers.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 5

Valid until: Jan 5th, 2014 2:00PM