Avalanche forecast

South Coast Inland

Jan 9, 2017Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 10 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low

Highlights

The incoming storm will form new wind slabs and increase the avalanche danger at higher elevations. If the southern portion (Coquihalla) sees more than 25cm, the danger rating will be CONSIDERABLE.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    The incoming storm will bury old stubborn wind slabs from last week's outflow winds, and form new wind slabs in the lee of exposed terrain.
  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Storm slabs will be a more significant problem in the southern part of the region where more precipitation is forecast.

Confidence

Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Monday

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY: Flurries starting in the afternoon, moderate southeast winds increasing throughout the day, alpine temperatures around -10. MONDAY:  5-15 cm of new snow in the north (Duffey Lk road) and 25-30 cm in the south (Coquihalla). Snow continuing with an additional 10-15 cm possible in the south. Moderate south west winds with strong gusts, alpine temperatures around -5. TUESDAY: Clearing in the morning, light northerly winds, alpine temperatures around -12. WEDNESDAY: Sunny with light northerly winds, alpine temperatures around -14.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed this weekend. Wind slabs were reactive in the Duffey Lake area earlier in the week, including an avalanche involvement reported on the MIN and an explosive triggered wind slab. Be on the lookout for wind loaded pockets where reactive wind slabs may still be lingering.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 5 cm of snow from Friday covers a variable surface with a mix of soft wind slabs, hard wind slabs, sastrugi, faceted snow, sun crust, and even some surface hoar. Last week's winds were primarily from the north, which reverse loaded many terrain features and formed stubborn wind slabs. For low snow areas, such as the northern part of the region, two layers of concern exist. One is a weak layer of snow from mid-December buried approximately 50 cm deep and other is an old rain crust from November buried 80-120 cm deep. Snowpack tests indicate these layers may be possible to trigger in shallow snowpack areas. Elsewhere, these layers are typically much deeper and are considered to be stable.

Regions covered