Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Jan 13th, 2016–Jan 14th, 2016

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: South Coast.

Touchy soft slabs can likely be found in wind loaded features or around convexities.

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Thursday: cloudy with sunny periods, light west winds becoming southeasterly, freezing levels between 800m and 1200m. Friday: mainly clear and dry with light southerly winds and a freezing level of around 500m. Saturday: the next storm is expected to bring 5cm through the day with slight to moderate south winds and a freezing level of 1000m.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche have been reported since Tuesdays storm.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15cm of new snow overlies a crust on steep solar aspects, or a layer of surface hoar on sheltered and shady slopes at all elevations. Moderate to strong southwest through south east winds have been loading lee features. 10 to 15 cm below this is a second buried weak layer again consisting of a melt-freeze crust on solar aspects in the alpine or well-developed surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline and lower elevations. Deeper still, the mid and lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of shallow snowpack areas that may be more faceted. Bellow 1400m rain may have saturated the upper snowpack. Moderate southerly winds have formed soft slabs in lee features at treeline and in the alpine.

Avalanche Problems

Storm Slabs

The recent storm snow is sitting above a widespread layer of surface hoar. Expect touchy conditions in area where wind has formed deeper soft slabs.

Avoid open slopes and convex rolls at and below treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.>Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 3