Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 18th, 2016 3:00PM

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

ccampbell, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

Don't let your guard down as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

A mix of sun and cloud with light to moderate southerly winds and isolated light flurries is expected for Tuesday and Wednesday, before increasing cloud and wind with 2-5cm of snow for Thursday. Freeing levels should remain in valley bottoms for the forecast period.

Avalanche Summary

Reports from Sunday include generally small skier triggered storm and wind slabs avalanches, some of which ran on surface hoar buried a week and a half ago. Skier triggered sluffs were also reported to run far.

Snowpack Summary

The region has a mix of wind slabs and developing storm slabs. In higher snowpack areas in the northwest of the region, the storm slab has become reactive to human triggers. In most other areas the wind slabs are thin and stiff. Buried surface hoar is layered through the thin snowpack, and cool temperatures as well as limited loading have preserved these weak layers. The mid pack that was reported to be well settled may have now facetted in the shallower areas, and the deeper basal layers are almost certainly facetted and weak. We have not heard of any full depth releases on weak basal layers yet.

Problems

Wind Slabs

New wind slabs are expected to form strong winds and light new snowfall continue. Old stiffer wind slabs may also still be lingering around ridge crests.

Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow. >Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>On steep slopes, pull over periodically or cut into a new line to manage sluffing.>Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Jan 19th, 2016 2:00PM