Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 26th, 2013 9:32AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs.
swerner,
Avalanche Canada
Summary
Confidence
Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain
Weather Forecast
Sunday: Northwest flows aloft will bring continued snowfall accumulations. Snow amounts 5-10 cm accompanied by moderate ridgetop winds from the West. Alpine temperatures near -6.0 and freezing levels at valley bottom. Monday: A low pressure system over Gulf of Alaska will move onto the north coast, sliding South bringing light precipitation. Snow amounts near 5cm with moderate NW ridgetop winds. Alpine temperatures near -6 and freezing levels at valley bottom. Tuesday: Light-Moderate snowfall amounts expected. Alpine temperatures near -3.0. Ridgetop winds out of the NW in the light ranges.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche observations reported.
Snowpack Summary
Around 15 cm of snow overlies a variety of surfaces including hard old wind slabs, thin and thick crusts and large surface hoar crystals which can be found in sheltered terrain below treeline. In some areas, winds have transported the new snow and has built winds slabs in the lee of terrain features. A surface hoar layer buried down 40-80 cm seems to be gaining strength, but still exhibits moderate, sudden results in isolated snowpack tests. Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer exists, which is now unlikely to be triggered, except perhaps by heavy triggers in unsupported, shallow, rocky terrain where more faceting has taken place.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm slabs have built, and in areas affected by wind, wind slabs are likely encountered. These continue to be touchy to rider triggers. In other areas be alert for loose dry avalanches out of steeper terrain.
Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain; especially in areas where terrain traps lurk below.>
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 27th, 2013 2:00PM
