Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 9th, 2016 7:29AM

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

pmarshall, Avalanche Canada

South Coast.

It is a good time to tackle bigger objectives, but keep your guard up. Avalanches are still possible in LOW danger.

Summary

Confidence

High - The weather pattern is stable

Weather Forecast

Sunday: A mix of sun and cloud. The freezing level is around 500 m. Winds are light. Monday: Mainly sunny. The freezing level is near 500 m but an above freezing layer near ridge top is possible. Winds are moderate from the SW. Tuesday: Mainly cloudy with snow potentially developing. The freezing level is around 800 m and winds increase to strong from the S-SW.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported but watch for loose snow sluffing in steep terrain and sun-exposed slopes, and small wind slabs in lee and cross-loaded terrain in the alpine.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15 cm of dry snow sits on a variety of old surfaces including a melt-freeze crust on solar aspects in the alpine, smooth old snow on higher elevation lee slopes, and well-developed surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline and lower elevations. This dry surface snow could be capped by a sun crust on some steep solar aspects, or a fresh layer of surface hoar on sheltered and shady slopes. Variable winds have created soft wind slabs in lee and cross-loaded terrain in alpine areas. The mid and lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of shallow snowpack areas.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Small wind slabs may be sensitive to rider triggering in steep and unsupported lee and cross-loaded terrain.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 10th, 2016 2:00PM