Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 28th, 2013 9:56AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs.
pgoddard,
Avalanche Canada
Avalanche danger may be CONSIDERABLE in the Alpine in areas with highest amounts of recent snow, such as Kootenay Pass.
Summary
Confidence
Fair - Due to variable snowpack conditions
Weather Forecast
Monday night: Strong NW winds. Alpine temperature near -4. Very light snow.Tuesday: Light N winds. Alpine temperature near -12. Light snow.Wednesday: Strong NW winds. Alpine temperature near -8. Light snow.Thursday: Light W winds. Alpine temperature near -6. Light snow.
Avalanche Summary
Loose dry avalanches and soft slabs to size 1.5 were triggered naturally and by skiers on Sunday. Explosives triggered several size 1-2 slabs on Monday, failing on a buried crust down 20-30 cm.
Snowpack Summary
Around 15-35 cm snow overlies various old surfaces including surface hoar, facets, hard slabs and crusts. The wind has created soft slabs on lee slopes. As incremental snowfalls build up, a cohesive storm slab is developing. Deeper in the pack (about 50-60cm down), a weak interface exhibits mainly hard to no results in snowpack tests, with isolated moderate, sudden results.
Problems
Storm Slabs
In areas with around 30 cm recent snow, a storm slab is reactive. In other areas, a storm slab is slowly building up. Winds have shifted snow into soft slabs on lee slopes as well.
Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.>
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 29th, 2013 2:00PM
