Avalanche forecast

South Columbia

Jan 8 – 9, 2013Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
4 · High
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Highlights

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–6
    Weaknesses within and below the storm snow are touchy. Winds are also creating deep wind slabs behind terrain breaks such as ridges and ribs. Avalanches could reach the valley floor.

Confidence

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain on Wednesday

Weather Forecast

Tuesday night/Wednesday: Strong SW wind. Alpine temperature near -9. 30-50 cm snow.Thursday: Light NW wind. Alpine temperature near -15. Light snow.Friday: Light NW wind. Alpine temperature near -16. No precipitation.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous size 1-2 storm snow avalanches were triggered naturally and by skiers on Monday. Explosives triggered storm snow avalanches to size 2.5. In some areas, activity was limited to loose dry sluffing or small very soft slabs. The size and likelihood of avalanches is expected to increase on Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

New snow has been sluffing readily and developing into slabs, which have a weak bond to old snow surfaces including surface hoar, facets and a sun crust. By Wednesday morning, storm snow totals could be 1m or more in some areas, leading to the potential for deep and destructive storm snow avalanches. In wind-affected areas, wind slabs have formed behind terrain breaks such as ridges and ribs. A strong mid-pack overlies a weak facet/crust layer near the base of the snowpack.

Regions covered