Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 24th, 2013 9:13AM

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

pgoddard, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Coastal.

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

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 5

Valid until: Jan 25th, 2013 2:00PM