Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 7th, 2012 9:05AM
The alpine rating is Wind Slabs and Cornices.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeSummary
Confidence
Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain on Friday
Weather Forecast
The weather patterns will start to change on Wednesday. The inland regions may see light amounts of precipitation starting in the afternoon with freezing levels near 1000m. They could rise to 1500m later in the afternoon. Thursday into Friday may bring light-moderate precipitation, with freezing levels rising to 1600m. Ridgetop winds will be moderate from the SW, switching Southerly towards the end of the forecast period. Weather models disagree; confidence in precipitation amounts is poor.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche observations reported.
Snowpack Summary
Snow surface conditions are variable. Thin, breakable sun crusts have developed on steep solar aspects in the alpine. Melt freeze crusts exist at lower elevations on most aspects. At treeline and below treeline surface faceting and surface hoar growth (5mm) are forming; especially on shady aspects in sheltered locations. In the Duffy Lake and Coquihalla sits a well settled snowpack below the variable surface conditions. Additionally in the Coquilhalla hard wind slabs 5-15cm thick and have formed due to strong outflow winds. Cornice fall is still a concern under the sunny skies and could trigger a large slab avalanche from the slope below. The older storm slab in the Coquihalla is about a meter deep and continues to settle and bond.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 8th, 2012 3:00AM