Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 11th, 2012 9:22AM

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

jlammers, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain on Thursday

Weather Forecast

Thursday: Light snowfall / strong southwest winds / freezing level at about 450m throughout the dayFriday: Very light snowfall / light westerly winds / -12.0 at 1500mSaturday: Light snowfall / light to moderate westerly winds / -12.0 at 1500m

Avalanche Summary

1 size 3 natural was reported in the high alpine in the Burnie Glacier area. There was also a size 2 reported in the same area at treeline. Both of these avalanches were triggered by natural cornice fall.

Snowpack Summary

Heavy rain up to about 1000 metres on Saturday night ended around 0800 Sunday. Cooling since the storm has created a rain crust up to about 1200 metres. There is about 235 cm at 1500 metres. There is an old rain crust that is buried down about a metre that is knife hard and showing old facets above and below. The snowpack is well settled below the rain crust down to the ground. The snowpack in the alpine is highly variable. Strong winds with almost every storm this winter have scoured ridges and knolls down to bare ground, and exposed boulders on some slopes.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Old windslabs are settling and becoming more stubborn to human triggers. Watch for tender cornices as the potential trigger for a release on the slope below. New windslabs will most likely be small and isolated to pockets of lee terrain.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Persistent Slabs

Persistent slabs are getting harder to trigger but still exist in many locations.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 6

Valid until: Jan 12th, 2012 8:00AM