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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 16th, 2013–Jan 17th, 2013

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kootenay Boundary.

Confidence

Fair - Due to variable snowpack conditions

Weather Forecast

Mainly dry conditions are expected for the forecast period. Winds are forecast to be moderate to strong from the northwest diminishing gradually towards the weekend. An inversion should persist through the period; however, alpine temperatures should stay below 0.0.

Avalanche Summary

A few loose moist avalanches to size 1.5 were reported from the region. They occurred on steep solar aspects. A few windlsabs to size 2 were also reported in alpine terrain. They all seemed to have formed due to strong northwest winds.

Snowpack Summary

Recent winds have formed windslabs in alpine and treeline terrainBelow this new wind slab ~65cm of settled snow rests on the January 4th interface which consists of small facets, surface hoar (up to 12mm) in sheltered treeline and below treeline areas, and a sun crust on steep solar aspects. The layer is still reactive in test pits, but has not been reactive to human triggering in recent days.The midpack is well bonded and strong. The November 28 surface hoar is still being found in isolated, sheltered below treeline locations buried 120cm. The deep crust/facet combo from early November still exists but seams to be dormant for the time being.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.