Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 24th, 2013 9:13AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs.
pgoddard,
Avalanche Canada
Local snowfall amounts and winds will drive the avalanche danger. These will be variable across the region. The posted ratings may be a bit high for some areas.
Summary
Confidence
Poor - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain for the entire period
Weather Forecast
Friday: Strong to extreme SW winds. Alpine temperature near -6. 15-30 cm snow overnight Thursday, and 10-25 cm on Friday.Saturday: Moderate SW winds. Alpine temperature near -6. 5 cm snow.Sunday: Moderate SW winds. Alpine temperature near -9. 5-10 cm snow.
Avalanche Summary
Surface sluffs were failing naturally and with skier traffic in steep terrain on Wednesday.
Snowpack Summary
Variable amounts of new snow are building up over a medley of surfaces including hard and soft wind slabs, scoured slopes, blue ice, thin melt-freeze crusts and surface hoar. Winds are likely to shift snow into slabs in the lee of terrain breaks such as ridges and ribs. Two persistent weaknesses (comprising surface hoar and facets) buried in the upper snowpack give moderate to hard, sudden results in snowpack tests. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled and strong, although basal facets remain a concern in the north of the region.
Problems
Storm Slabs
As new snow builds up over the next few days, storm slabs and wind slabs will increase in size and likelihood.
Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.>Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.>
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 25th, 2013 2:00PM
