Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 22nd, 2017 3:36PM

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

mgrist, Avalanche Canada

South Coast.

Be alert to conditions that change with elevation. Lots of rain at lower elevations might mean lots of snow up high.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Seasonal temperatures, some cloud, some sun, no precipitation is the order of the week. MONDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods. Winds light northerly and freezing level around 1200m. TUESDAY: Cloudy. Winds light northwesterly and freezing level around 750m. WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods. Light northwesterly wind and freezing level around 800m.

Avalanche Summary

No new observed.

Snowpack Summary

At treeline elevations (1200m) and above, 20-35cm of heavy snow from Thursday-Friday sits on the rain-soaked snow from last week's warmup. This latest snow is settling and bonding well to the previous rain-soaked snow surface. At alpine elevations fresh wind slabs could be touchy, especially if we do get as much snow as some forecasts suggest (up to 25cm by Sunday afternoon). The cooling trend early next week is expected to stabilize the snowpack - locking up the moist snow at treeline and below. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.

Problems

Storm Slabs

If you do encounter areas with >20 cm new snow, rein in your terrain use as storm slabs may also trigger deeper, weaker layers.

Minimize exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach run out zones.Minimize overhead exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Jan 23rd, 2017 2:00PM