Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 3rd, 2014 8:22AM

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

triley, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Coastal.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Overnight and Saturday: Broken skies overnight with some clear periods or high clouds during the day. Cooler more seasonal temperatures with freezing levels dropping down to near sea level overnight and then rising to about 200 metres during the day. Moderate Northwest winds and no precipitation forecast.Sunday: A mix of sun and cloud with no precipitation. Light South winds becoming moderate as warm air moves in from the Pacific. Freezing level may rise to ridgetops.Monday: Overcast with moderate Southwest winds and warm air trapped at higher elevations.

Avalanche Summary

No recent natural avalanches have been reported.

Snowpack Summary

In general the snowpack seems shallower and more faceted in the northern part of the region, and deeper with more wind and storm slab problems in the south. A significant amount of recent storm snow is settling rapidly, but will likely remain unstable for at least a few days after the weather clears. However, persistent weaknesses including facets and surface hoar buried near the end of December, will likely remain primed for triggering. Basal facets remain a concern in shallow snowpack areas and an overlying snowpack structure favoring step-down fractures can contribute to the persistence of this deep slab problem.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Strong winds during the storm developed deep pockets of wind transported snow on North thru Southeast facing slopes in the alpine and at treeline. Moderate to strong Northwest winds after the storm may reverse load some Southerly aspects.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 5

Persistent Slabs

Shallow snowpack areas in the North of the region may continue to have persistent weak layers of surface hoar and/or a facetted crust near the ground.

Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches due to the presence of buried weak layers.>Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 5

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