Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 3rd, 2015 8:50AM

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

Avalanche Canada rbuhler, Avalanche Canada

Lingering wind slabs may still be a concern on Wednesday. Expect rapidly decreasing conditions on Thursday with the arrival of the storm system.

Summary

Confidence

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

Weather Forecast

A ridge of high pressure should keep the South Coast mainly dry on Wednesday. Mostly cloudy conditions are expected with sunny breaks possible. Freezing levels are forecast to be around 1200m and alpine winds should remain light from the SW. The warm front is expected to arrive Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. There is some uncertainty regarding precipitation amounts but the region should see 20-40mm of precipitation by Thursday evening. Freezing levels are forecast to rise to around 2000m by the end of the Thursday and alpine winds will become strong from the SW. Friday should see similar storm conditions with heavy precipitation, freezing levels over 2000m, and strong alpine winds.

Avalanche Summary

On Monday, skiers were triggering soft wind slabs in immediately leeward features up to size 2. On Sunday, small soft wind slabs were reported to be reactive to skier triggering. Sluffing from steep terrain features was also reported. Similar conditions are expected on Wednesday with natural avalanches not expected and skier-triggered avalanches remaining possible in wind-loaded features.

Snowpack Summary

Around 20-30cm of new snow overlies a hard rain crust that exists up to at least 2100m. In exposed terrain, the new accumulations have been shifted by strong SW winds into wind slabs up to 40cm thick which may be especially reactive due to the underlying crust. Deeper snowpack weaknesses have become unreactive on account of the strong capping crust layer.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Recent snowfall and strong southwest winds have formed wind slabs in exposed leeward terrain features.
Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 4th, 2015 2:00PM