Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 29th, 2014 8:27AM

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

triley, Avalanche Canada

South Coast.

Danger ratings are for areas in the South of the region that have already received 10 cm new snow and are forecast for 5-10 cm more by morning. These ratings may be a bit too high for other areas.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Overnight and Thursday: Snow is forecast overnight and Thursday as the Arctic front moves south and cools the moist air left behind as the low pressure moves to the Southeast. Expect 3-5 cm in the North and 5-10 cm in the South. Light to moderate Northwest winds and freezing levels dropping down to about 500 metres by morning.Friday: Mix of sun and cloud as the cold arctic air dries out the airmass. Freezing levels at valley bottoms and moderate Northwest winds. Alpine temperatures around -12 C.Saturday: Mostly sunny with alpine temperatures around -10 C and light Westerly winds.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches reported.

Snowpack Summary

Below freezing temperatures have created a solid melt-freeze crust at all elevations and on most aspects. Sheltered North aspects in the alpine may have stayed dry and now have facetted surface snow. New snow may not bond to the old surface where surface hoar has grown at and below treeline. In the alpine the new snow may not bond to the crust depending on the timing of the cooling. There continues to be a concern for deeply buried layers of weak facetted crystals, this is mostly a concern on slopes with a shallow and variable snowpack in the Duffey Lake and Chilcotin areas.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Pockets of new wind slab may develop where new snow has been transported by the Westerly winds. The new wind slabs may not bond to the old hard melt-freeze crust. A layer of surface hoar and/or facets may make an easy sliding layer on the crust.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deeply buried weak layers of facetted crystals continue to be a concern on slopes with a shallow snowpack.

Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

3 - 6

Valid until: Jan 30th, 2014 2:00PM