Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 28th, 2012 9:21AM

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

jlammers, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Coastal.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Wind speed or direction are uncertain on Saturday

Weather Forecast

Friday night and Saturday: Light snowfall on Friday night with a clearing trend throughout Saturday / Moderate southwest winds associated with Friday's system becoming light and northwesterly on Saturday / Freezing level at 400mSunday: Mostly clear skies- Light snowfall for the north / Light southwest winds / Freezing level at 400mMonday: Light snowfall / Strong southwest winds / Freezing level at 400m

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been reported. Surface avalanche activity is quite likely in the wake of snowfall on Thursday night. It should most likely occur as loose dry avalanche activity, or as windslabs if the wind increases.

Snowpack Summary

In some areas over 25cm of recent snow overlies a variety of surfaces. These surfaces may include facets, surface hoar and variable windslabs from a week of strong to extreme northeast outflow winds. A layer of surface hoar buried in the upper metre of the pack has been observed in the Shames backcountry. The mid-pack is generally well settled. Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer continues to give hard, sudden results in snowpack tests. This weakness is unlikely to be triggered by a single person, but it remains possible with a very heavy load (e.g. cornice fall) or from a thin-spot trigger point.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs have formed in response to down-valley northeast winds. These may be hard to identify as they are now buried by new snow. New windslabs will also develop where the recently fallen snow has been affected by winds.

Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of buried hard windslabs.>Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Loose Dry

Loose dry avalanches may be easily triggered on steep terrain in the wake of new snowfall on Thursday night.

Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Dec 29th, 2012 2:00PM