Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 3rd, 2013 9:46AM

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.

mpeter, Avalanche Canada

South Coast.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Monday: Expect cloudy skies with a chance of flurries. Winds should be light and southerly and alpine temperatures should reach -5.Tuesday: Flurries could build to give moderate accumulations. Gusty southerly winds continue and alpine temperatures should reach -5.Wednesday: Cloudy, with light southerly winds and temperatures reaching -5.

Avalanche Summary

Isolated loose wet sluffs have been reported. The Coquihalla area has seen some glide slabs release on slopes with granite slabs as the ground cover.

Snowpack Summary

Wind slabs can be found behind ridges, ribs and on lee slopes (NW-NE). Sun crusts have formed on South and West facing slopes. The upper snowpack is showing continued settlement and gaining strength. Down 20-50 cm sits a persistent interface comprising of crusts, facets and surface hoar crystals. Recently, this layer has been reactive only in sheltered areas at treeline and below where the surface hoar lingers. The mid pack is generally well settled. The average snowpack depth at treeline is 180 cm.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Isolated windslabs may still be reactive in isolated lee and cross loaded features

Assess start zones carefully and use safe travel techniques.>

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Persistent Slabs

Buried down 30-60 cm exists a surface hoar/crust/facet layer. This layer of concern seems to be most reactive in sheltered locations over convex rolls and steeper terrain features at treeline and below.

Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 5

Valid until: Feb 4th, 2013 2:00PM