Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 4th, 2016 7:42AM

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

jlammers, Avalanche Canada

South Coast.

There's a lot uncertainty regarding the timing and intensity of snowfall forecast for Tuesday. When it does arrive, new wind slabs are expected to form.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Tuesday

Weather Forecast

Expect up to 5cm of new snow to fall on Tuesday with an additional 5cm possible on Tuesday night. Overcast skies are forecast for Wednesday and Thursday. Ridgetop winds will be moderate from the southeast with Tuesday's snowfall, becoming light by Wednesday and Thursday. Freezing levels should sit at valley bottom on Tuesday, and then rise to about 1000m on Wednesday and Thursday.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been observed. Looking forward, new wind slab activity is expected in higher elevation lee terrain over the next few days. The expected size and distribution of new wind slab avalanches is really tough to pin down at this point due to uncertainty in the weather forecast.

Snowpack Summary

By Tuesday, up to 5cm of new snow will overlie a medley of old surfaces which include a melt-freeze crust on solar aspects in the alpine, stubborn wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, and well-developed surface hoar in sheltered areas. Winds are expected to redistribute these new accumulations into soft wind slabs in high-elevation lee terrain. The mid and lower snowpack are generally strong and well-settled.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Small wind slabs are expected to form on Tuesday, although forecast snowfall amounts for the next few days are highly uncertain. Pay close attention to how much snow falls in your area, and choose terrain accordingly.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1

Valid until: Jan 5th, 2016 2:00PM