Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 17th, 2015 8:32AM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

pgoddard, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

Continued stormy conditions will create changing avalanche problems. Keep your wits about you and be prepared to adjust your plans as you travel.

Summary

Confidence

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Expect around 5 cm snow on Sunday with moderate to strong SW winds and the freezing level near 600 m. Light snow continues on Monday, with strong SW winds. A second organised system is forecast to affect the area on Tuesday, bringing moderate snow, strong SW winds and rising temperatures.

Avalanche Summary

In the Ningunsaw area, explosives triggered several deep persistent slabs to size 3 which failed on basal facets. Skiers also triggered size 1 slabs on wind-loaded features at treeline.

Snowpack Summary

Strong southerly winds are building wind slabs, generally depositing snow on N and NE aspects (other aspects may be getting cross-loaded or variable local wind effects too, so keep your eyes open). A surface hoar layer was reported to have been buried at the start of January in the northern part of the region. In the mid-pack, a crust weakness buried in mid-December seems to have fallen off most operators' radar for now. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust-facet combination that could remain problematic, especially in shallower snowpack areas. We are skinny on field observations from your region, so submissions on our website are welcomed. Click Avalanche Information at the top of the page.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Continuing snow and strong winds will build wind slabs. These are generally found lee to the SW, but keep an eye for local wind effects that may have left wind slabs on other aspects.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>Choose well supported terrain without convexities.>

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

Deeply buried snowpack weaknesses are most likely to be triggered from shallow snowpack areas, or with a very heavy load like a cornice fall or airborne snowmobile landing.

Use caution around convexities, ridge crests, rock outcroppings and anywhere else with a thin or variable snowpack.>Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 6

Valid until: Jan 18th, 2015 2:00PM