Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 26th, 2013 9:09AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs.
istorm,
Avalanche Canada
Summary
Confidence
Good
Weather Forecast
Next active system (aka fresh snow?) not expected until Monday; likely to arrive with lots of wind. Tuesday may be cold and dry (if you're under the arctic air) or warmer with more snow (if you're south of the arctic front).Overnight & Sunday: WIND becoming west light to moderate, TEMPERATURE -5 to -10 C near treeline with freezing level to 900m possible, PRECIPITATION traces of new snow possible.Monday: WIND NW moderate to strong, PRECIP 15 to 20 cm late in the day, TEMP -5 near treeline but freezing level could climb again to 800m ahead of the cold frontTuesday: Another 15 to 20 cm of snow, light to moderate NW wind, slightly cooler with -10 C near treeline.
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday small natural avalanche cycle took place in the storm snow up to size 2 which ran on the January 23rd interface mostly on N and E face. Friday either no new activity or small loose were common; a few small slabs. GNP was the expception with moderate Na cycle to size 3 Fri AM in low density HST.
Snowpack Summary
HST 40 to 50 cm over Jan 24 SH/sc. HST settling into soft slab - watch on solar and SH (esp BTL). Pockety WSL N & E aspects. Jan 4 SH down 90 TL & BTL. Rime or Zr CR reported in Monashees.(Eagle Pass, MPS)
Problems
Storm Slabs
Watch for storm snow gaining cohesion on steep southerly slopes where it covers a crust or shady sheltered slopes in open glades where it rests on surface hoar. Pockets with pillows of windslab are likely on north or east facing slopes behind ridges.
Assess start zones carefully and use safe travel techniques.>Whumpfing, shooting cracks and recent avalanches are all strong indicators of an unstable snowpack.>Watch open slopes and convex rolls at and below treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.>Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 27th, 2013 2:00PM
