Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 7th, 2018 5:23PM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is high, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Loose Wet.

mbender, Avalanche Canada

South Coast.

There is uncertainty whether forecast heavy precipitation will come as rain or snow. Certainly where it is all falling as snow, the avalanche danger will be HIGH.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Monday

Weather Forecast

MONDAY: Mix of rain and snow, accumulation 15-20cm overnight Sunday into Monday and another 20cm through Monday / Light to moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature 1 TUESDAY: Cloudy with scattered flurries / Light to moderate west wind / Alpine temperature 0 WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with scattered flurries / Light west wind / Alpine temperature 0

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity has been reported. Expect to see both storm slab and loose wet avalanche activity on Monday with heavy precipitation coming as a mix of rain and snow.

Snowpack Summary

Cool temperatures through the day on Saturday created a crust on a previously moist or wet surface. Since then 25-40cm of fresh new snow has fallen to bury this crust. Looking down into the snowpack there are a few prominent melt-freeze crusts that were buried mid-December and are now 50 to 100cm below the surface. After heavy rain last Friday penetrated most of the snowpack, these crust layers have been reported to be bonding to the snow above and below. The rain last week has reduced the snowpack depth at 1000m to about 140cm and many early season hazards are still present at

Problems

Storm Slabs

30-50cm of new snow at higher elevations has come in warm and is sitting on a newly formed crust. It may react as a storm slab in steep terrain or as a wind slab in wind exposed features.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Wet

Expect to see small loose wet avalanches in steep terrain where precipitation is coming in as rain.

Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 8th, 2018 2:00PM