Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 5th, 2013 8:56AM

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

Avalanche Canada triley, Avalanche Canada

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Sunday

Weather Forecast

Overnight and Sunday: Light snow overnight should accumulate another 5 cms by morning and another 5-10 cms during the day on Sunday. Moderate Westerly winds overnight should become moderate Southwesterly with strong gusts during the day.Monday: Strong Southwest winds are forecast to build as the next pulse of moisture moves in from the coast. Expect 10-15 cms with temperatures down to about -10.0 in the alpine.Tuesday: Another pulse of moisture should bring 10-15 cms more during the day combined with moderate Southwest winds.

Avalanche Summary

Some thin wind slabs continue to be released by skiers and riders. Surface sluffing continues in steep terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Thin layers of dry cold snow are accumulating each day. In some areas this new snow has been transported into wind slabs. The recent cold and dry weather has caused the surface snow to facet and become weakly bonded. There has also been some surface hoar growth, mostly at and below treeline that has resulted in a weak bond below the new snow. This weak bonding has resulted in dry loose snow sluffing out of steep terrain. Forecast new snow on top of this weak unconsolidated surface should continue to sluff easily. Steep solar exposed terrain developed a thin sun crust during the recent period of warm air at higher elevations. If the new storm snow develops into a consolidated slab above the weak surface layers and crusts, expect this slab to be easy to trigger by light additional loads. If the new snow is transported into a wind slab, expect those pockets of wind slab to be very reactive; they may fail naturally or be triggered from adjacent terrain.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
New wind slabs are expected to develop due to forecast new snow and strong winds.
Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Jan 6th, 2013 2:00PM