Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 23rd, 2019 4:42PM

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

Avalanche Canada kdevine, Avalanche Canada

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South Coast Inland.

Although the storm has eased off, storm slabs are still likely to be encountered and could be reactive to human triggering, especially in wind loaded areas and as temperatures rise.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

WEDNESDAY NIGHT - Mainly cloudy / west winds,15-20 km/h / alpine low temperature near -4THURSDAY - Mainly cloudy / west winds,15-20 km/h / alpine high temperature near -1 / alpine temperature inversionFRIDAY - Cloudy with sunny periods / northwest winds,10-30 km/h / alpine high temperature near +3 / freezing level 1500 m / alpine temperature inversionSATURDAY - Cloudy with sunny periods / southwest winds, 20-30 km/h / alpine high temperature near +4 / freezing level 3000 m

Avalanche Summary

A few natural and human triggered avalanches to size 1.5 were reported in the region on Tuesday.No new avalanches were reported on Monday.A few small (size 1) wind slab avalanches were triggered naturally in the region on Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

A few stormy days brought total recent snowfall amounts to approximately 40-70 cm.  This snow fell onto a sun crust on south facing slopes, a melt freeze crust below approximately 1700 m on all aspects, and surface hoar (feathery crystals) in areas sheltered from the wind at all elevations.  The recent snow may not bond well to these layers.In some areas, another weak layer of surface hoar is buried about 60 to 100 cm in sheltered areas around treeline elevations.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
The recent snow may not bond well to underlying layers. Slabs are likely to be most reactive in wind loaded areas.
Observe for the bond of the new snow to underlying surfaces.Watch for signs of instability such as whumpfing, or cracking. If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 24th, 2019 2:00PM

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