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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 7th, 2013–Feb 8th, 2013

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

Regions

Kootenay Boundary.

Confidence

Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain for the entire period

Weather Forecast

A drying trend is expected to evolve throughout the forecast period as ridge of high pressure becomes firmly established over the region. Friday and Saturday should see a mix of sun and cloud; however, Sunday is more likely to see generally clear skies. Overnight cooling with a strong daytime solar influence becomes more likely throughout the period. Winds are expected to remain generally light and west/northwesterly.

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday a few small, skier-triggered loose snow avalanches failed within the new snow in steep terrain.No other avalanches were reported.

Snowpack Summary

Light to locally moderate amounts of recently fallen snow have been redistributed into soft wind slabs at higher elevations. The new snow overlies a gamut of old surfaces which include: old wind slabs at higher elevations, fairly widespread surface hoar, and a melt-freeze crust on previously sun-exposed slopes. These surfaces will be something to watch as the overlying slab develops.About 35-50cm below the surface is an interface of surface hoar or a sun crust that was buried on Jan 23. Although it seems to be gaining strength in some areas, this weakness remains a concern of professionals in the region and continues to show 'sudden' fracture characteristics in snowpack tests.The snowpack below this is generally well bonded.

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.