Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 1st, 2014 9:11AM

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

slemieux, Avalanche Canada

South Coast.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Tonight and Sunday: A weak disturbance is forecasted to bring mainly cloudy skies, a possibility of light precipitation with light N-NE winds, freezing levels at 500 m. and alpine temperatures around -10 C.Monday: A similar situation is forecasted for early Monday but should give way to partly cloudy skies during the day with light N winds and surface freezing levels. Tuesday: A ridge of high pressure is gaining strength bringing dry and cold temperatures.

Avalanche Summary

Several natural loose dry avalanches size 1 and 2 were reported on S and N aspects in the Coquihalla area.

Snowpack Summary

In the Southern part of the region, the recent storm snow has been redistributed by light to moderate winds from the SW to the N to create soft slabs in the alpine and at top of treeline. Warm temperatures at the beginning of the storm have created a good bond between the new snow and the crust. This new snow would also be sitting on a surface hoar layer on N aspects below treeline.In the Northern part of the region, 5-10 cm of recent snow has fallen over various surfaces, hard windslabs in the alpine, suncrust on S aspects and surface hoar in sheltered areas. There continues to be a concern for deeply buried layers of weak facetted crystals, this is mostly a concern on slopes with a shallow and variable snowpack in the Duffey Lake and Chilcotin areas.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Recent moderate SW winds has redistributed the storm snow creating pockets of windslab that could be reactive to skier triggering.

Use extra caution in freshly wind loaded features.>Travel on ridgetops to avoid wind slabs on slopes below.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deeply buried weak layers of facetted crystals continue to be a concern on slopes with a shallow snowpack especially in the Northern part of the region.

Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches.>Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

3 - 6

Valid until: Feb 2nd, 2014 2:00PM