Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 29th, 2017 3:37PM

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

shorton, Avalanche Canada

Sea To Sky.

Fresh wind slabs have formed and will be reactive to human triggers at higher elevations.

Summary

Confidence

High - Due to the number and quality of field observations

Weather Forecast

MONDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods, light west winds, alpine temperatures around -6 C.TUESDAY: Sunny, moderate northeast winds, alpine temperatures around -8 C.WEDNESDAY: Sunny, moderate northeast winds, alpine temperatures around -12 C.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous small wind slabs were reactive to human triggers on northerly aspects over the weekend (in the size 1-1.5 range). Wind slabs will likely continue to be reactive to human triggers in the lee of exposed terrain the next few days.

Snowpack Summary

Light flurries with strong southerly winds have formed fresh wind slabs in the lee of exposed terrain. About 5 cm new snow sits above a thin breakable sun crust and isolated pockets of surface hoar, potentially creating weak interfaces for wind slabs to propagate along. Old lingering wind slabs may also exist in the immediate lee of ridges. A total of 60-120 cm of settled storm snow now forms our upper snowpack and has generally bonded well to the crust below. The exception may be thin rocky areas. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled but still feature a number of facet and crust layers that warrant long term monitoring.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Watch for pockets of wind slabs on exposed features near ridge crests and cross-loaded gullies. Also be cautious around thin rocky areas where wind slabs may step down to deeper weak layers.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.Avoid steep convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 30th, 2017 2:00PM