Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 11th, 2012 7:56AM

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

jfloyer, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Coastal.

Summary

Confidence

Good - -1

Weather Forecast

Saturday night: light precipitation with 5-10 mm expected. Freezing level around 700 m. Strong southwesterly winds. Sunday: Winds veering to moderate northwesterly. Lingering flurries in the morning, later becoming dry as a high pressure ridge builds. Freezing level around 700 m. Monday: Dry and sunny. Light winds. Freezing level at valley bottom. Tuesday: another weak frontal system will bring light precipitation and moderate southwesterly winds.

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been reported from this region.

Snowpack Summary

Approximately 5 cm of new snow at treeline and above has buried a surface hoar layer (crystal size reported to be 1-4 mm) lying on old surfaces comprising crusts and variable wind slabs. The crusts formed in response to successive melt-freeze cycles and are harder and thicker the lower in elevation you go. The wind slabs were deposited on a variety of aspects and are becoming increasingly stubborn and difficult to trigger. Deeper within the snowpack, a facet layer buried around Jan 20th is the greatest concern. This layer lies approximately 110-140 cm below the surface and still exhibits hard, sudden planar results in isolated snowpack tests.

Problems

Cornices

Large cornices are looming over some slopes which could act as a trigger for large, deep avalanches if they collapse.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

3 - 6

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs are forming behind ridge lines in response to new snow and southwesterly winds.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Feb 12th, 2012 3:00AM