Avalanche forecast

Northwest Inland

Jan 12 – 13, 2015Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Incoming precipitation with mod SW winds will drive the wind slab problem. Choose conservative terrain at treeline and above.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Recent wind slabs should be bonding with the mild temperatures, but incoming precipitation will rebuild the wind slab problem.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–6
    A small avalanche or a cornice failure might trigger deeply buried instabilities.

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number and quality of field observations

Weather Forecast

An upper level trough will move into the area from the Pacific tonight and into Tuesday bringing light precipitation, with 5 to 10 cm of new snow at upper elevations. A bit of clearing on Wednesday, then more light precip. 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

Recent winds have created wind slabs on lee aspects in exposed terrain. Below the recent storm snow is a rain crust at lower elevations and a temperature crust formed on the surface above treeline in some locations 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.

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