Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 13th, 2015 8:13AM

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.

bcorrigan, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

Careful attention to terrain choices are the "words to live by" right now. Buried surface hoar and facets could be triggered with a small avalanche.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number and quality of field observations

Weather Forecast

Pacific moisture moving through the area for the next few days should bring us 5 to 10 cm of new snow by the end of Tuesday, with a break on Wednesday, then another 5 to 10 cm on Thursday and Friday. Winds from the S-SW, moderate to strong at upper elevations throughout the forecast period. Freezing levels should remain around 500 m, but may spike to 1800m on Wednesday, then return to around 500 m on Friday.

Avalanche Summary

No reports of avalanche activity yesterday.

Snowpack Summary

SW winds are creating wind slabs on lee aspects in exposed terrain, generally depositing snow on N and NE aspects. Below the recent storm snow is a rain crust at lower elevations and a temperature crust that formed on the surface above treeline from the recent temperature inversion. In the mid-pack a surface hoar layer has been reported, although it appears to be spotty in distribution. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust-facet combination that will hopefully soon no longer be a problem.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Incoming precipitation will rebuild the wind slab problem.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>Choose well supported terrain without convexities.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

This mid layer crust facet combination will take a long time to go away. Rapid warming, rapid loading, or an avalanche event could bring this dragon back to life.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Use caution around convexities, ridge crests, rock outcroppings and anywhere else with a thin or variable snowpack.>Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 6

Valid until: Jan 14th, 2015 2:00PM