Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 14th, 2015 8:13AM

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.

bcorrigan, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

Lack of recent avalanche activity indicates we haven't seen the loads necessary to trigger buried weak layers. Conservative route selection is still essential to staying safe.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number and quality of field observations

Weather Forecast

A fast moving cold front will pass through the area Thursday evening bringing strong south winds and 5 to 10 cm of new snow at the upper elevations. Freezing levels should remain around 500m, but may dip to valley bottom. Friday will have a break in the weather before the next pacific system arrives on Saturday.

Avalanche Summary

No reports of avalanche activity in the region yesterday, but further west there have been reports of large natural avalanches on s facing slopes at upper elevations. We just having seen the quantity of snow in the NW Inland,..yet.

Snowpack Summary

Strong South winds will build wind-slabs on lee aspects in exposed terrain, generally depositing snow on N and NE aspects. Below the recent storm snow is a rain crust at lower elevations and a temperature crust that formed on the surface above treeline from the last temperature inversion. In the mid-pack a surface hoar layer has been reported, as well as a mid-December crust, but we haven't seen any activity on it recently. Most likely because it hasn't yet received a significant load on it. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust-facet combination that could remain problematic for some time.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Dribs and drabs of new snow will load lee slopes in the next little while. Be on the lookout for wind-loaded pockets that might fail with rider loads.

Choose well supported terrain without convexities.>Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

This weakness is widely variable in depth and seems to be mostly around tree-lane and below . It could be triggered by a small wind-slab avalanche or the weight of a snow machine.

Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches.>Use caution around convexities, ridge crests, rock outcroppings and anywhere else with a thin or variable snowpack.>Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 6

Valid until: Jan 15th, 2015 2:00PM