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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 11th, 2015–Jan 12th, 2015

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

Regions

Cariboos.

The mid-December weakness is variable in distribution, but still has teeth. Be especially cautious at treeline.

Confidence

Fair

Weather Forecast

An upper ridge continues to shift the storm track into the Alaskan Panhandle. No new snow is expected for the three day forecast period. Winds are expected to remain light out of the SW at treeline and moderate to strong out of the NW at ridgetop. The freezing level looks to remain at Valley Bottom until Wednesday afternoon when it is expected to rise as warm SW air begins to invade the province.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity to report.

Snowpack Summary

We've received reports that a temperature inversion has left a crust above 1800m on most aspects in the Valemount area. Other parts of the region are reporting a thin solar crust on steep south and east aspects. Warm temps and time have helped to settle the 30 - 90cm of storm snow that fell almost a week ago. That snow rests on the mid-December surface hoar/crust persistent weak layer that continues to produce inconsistent test results. It seams to be most sensitive at and below treeline (approx: 1900m).

Problems

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.

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.