Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 3rd, 2014 8:19AM

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

Avalanche Canada triley, Avalanche Canada

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Overnight and Saturday: Mostly clear overnight with a mix of sun and cloud during the day. Cooler more seasonal temperatures with alpine lows about -10. Light to moderate Northwest winds and no precipitation.Sunday: Mix of sun and cloud with an area of warm air moving into alpine elevations pushed by moderate Southwest winds. Above freezing temperatures are expected in the Alpine.Monday: Continued warm air at higher elevations with light to moderate Southwest winds and no precipitation.

Avalanche Summary

Some pockets of wind slab were skier controlled up to size 1.5 and a recent report includes observation of a Size 2 storm slab that ran naturally in the past couple of days on a northeast facing alpine slope.

Snowpack Summary

New snow is expected to be poorly bonded, especially where it is sitting on a thin ice crust. The snowpack depth and structure is highly variable but generally shallow and faceted, which is unusual for the south coast. Recent warm temperatures have promoted strengthening, but weaknesses under the past week's storm snow remain a concern, particularly on wind-loaded slopes. A crust/facet combo buried near the end of November remains the upper/mid snowpack feature to watch. Basal depth hoar in shallow snowpack areas also remain a concern, particularly on south aspects.Early season riding hazards such as rocks, stumps and logs are lurking below the surface in many areas. In glaciated terrain open and poorly bridged crevasses are everywhere.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Wind slabs that developed during the recent storm are expected to become more stubborn to trigger, but may propagate further as the storm snow settles.
Use caution around freshly wind loaded features.>Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Jan 4th, 2014 2:00PM