Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 23rd, 2016 7:34AM

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.

pmarshall, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

Recent observations are very limited from the region. If you're out in the mountains please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network.

Summary

Confidence

Low - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Sunday: Mainly cloudy. The freezing level is at valley bottom and winds are moderate from the southeast. Monday: Cloudy with light snow â€“ around 5 cm. The freezing level could rise to 600-800 m and winds increase to strong from the S-SW. Tuesday: Periods of snow. The freezing level rises to 1000-1200 m. Winds remain strong from the southwest.

Avalanche Summary

There are very few observations from the region. A couple natural size 2 slab avalanches were observed in wind-loaded terrain (N-NE aspects) at around 1800 m on Friday.

Snowpack Summary

Light snowfall with moderate southeast winds may be enough to form fresh, reactive wind slabs in lee features. In some places this could also activate buried surface hoar in the upper snowpack, generally found between 30 and 60 cm deep. Stay tuned to signs of instability like recent avalanches, whumpfing, and shooting cracks. The mid pack that was reported to be well settled may have now facetted in the shallower areas, and the deeper basal layers are almost certainly facetted and weak. We have not heard of any full depth releases on weak basal layers yet.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Watch for pockets of wind slab in exposed lee and cross-loaded terrain. These wind slabs could be triggered by the weight of a skier or sled, especially where they are sitting on a persistent weakness.

Choose well supported terrain without convexities.>Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain. >

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

New snow has been slowly accumulating over a layer of facets and surface hoar and may now be primed for triggering in some areas.

Avoid open slopes and convex rolls at and below treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.>Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Jan 24th, 2016 2:00PM