Avalanche forecast

South Rockies

Jan 14 – 15, 2015Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 12 years ago

Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Conditions vary across the region. Get your shovel out and take a look in the snow before committing to a line.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Wind slabs may be found on a variety of slopes following recent changes in wind direction. Forecast winds may concentrate new wind slabs onto slopes lee to the south-west.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–4
    A buried persistent weakness, down 30-70 cm, should remain on your radar as it has the potential to produce large avalanches.

Confidence

Fair

Weather Forecast

A layer of warm air aloft will continue to produce warm alpine temperatures on Thursday. Light amounts of precipitation are expected on Friday. SW winds strengthen on Thursday and become strong to gale by Friday.

Avalanche Summary

On Monday a naturally triggered slab was observed in the north Elk Valley in steep rocky terrain.

Snowpack Summary

A dusting of recent snow may overlie a rain crust which exists up to 1900 m. In upper elevation terrain, these modest accumulations overlie hard, stubborn wind slabs. Up to 75 cm below the surface you may find a hard, thick crust which was buried in mid-December. This crust has overlying facets and/or surface hoar. This layer seems variably reactive throughout the region. In areas where the overlying slab is thick and cohesive, large avalanches are possible at this interface. A crust/facet combo which formed in November seems to have gone dormant for the time being.

Regions covered