Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 1st, 2013 10:10AM

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

jfloyer, Avalanche Canada

South Coast.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: Dry with sunny spells. An inversion is likely with alpine temperatures a couple of degrees above zero. Ridgetop winds gusting to 40 km/h from the SW. Thursday: Dry, with sunshine in the morning. The inversion will continue into Thursday. Ridgetop winds remaining around 40km/h. Friday: up to 5 cm snow. Freezing level lowering to around 1000m. Winds around 40km/h from the SW.

Avalanche Summary

A cornice fall released a size 2 slab avalanche on Monday.

Snowpack Summary

The steep South facing aspects are getting moist with warm temperatures and sun effect weakening the surface layer during the afternoons. As an overview, the snowpack is generally well-settled.? Near the base of the snowpack, the crust/facet layer appears to be inactive but still produces the sudden planar and collapse shears in isolated areas, especially in the Northern part of the region. Although unlikely, triggering an avalanche on a basal may be possible from thin snowpack areas or with a very heavy trigger.

Problems

Wind Slabs

A shift in wind direction to the SW as set up new wind slabs on northerly and easterly aspects. With warm daytime temperatures, cornices may also be fragile.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Jan 2nd, 2013 2:00PM