Avalanche forecast

South Coast

Jan 21, 2018Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 9 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
4 · High
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Highlights

With heavy snow and high winds in the forecast, Sunday looks like a great day to enjoy the resort. Or stick to simple, low-angle terrain free of overhead hazard if you choose to venture into the backcountry.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1.5–2.5
    Recent storm snow and strong winds have formed deep storm slabs. These slabs have been very reactive to skier triggering, particularly in steeper terrain and wind-loaded areas.

Confidence

-

Weather Forecast

TONIGHT: Heavy snow. Accumulation 30-40 cm. Ridge wind strong to extreme, south. Temperature -1. Freezing level 1000 m.SUNDAY: Heavy snow. Accumulation 35-45 cm. Ridge wind strong to extreme, south. Temperature -1. Freezing level 1000 m.MONDAY: Flurries. Accumulation 5-15 cm. Ridge wind light to moderate, southwest. Temperature -2. Freezing level 900 m.TUESDAY: Snow. Accumulation 20-30 cm. Ridge wind strong to extreme, south. Temperature -1. Freezing level 1100 m.

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday explosive control work produced several size 1-1.5 avalanches ranging from 20-60 cm deep and failing within the recent storm snow.Friday, ski cutting produced size 1-1.5, storm snow releases in all steep terrain. Rapid loading and significant cornice development were also reported on Friday with professionals in the region commenting that conditions were changing dramatically during the day, and avalanche hazard increasing.

Snowpack Summary

Above 1000m about 60 cm of new snow has fallen with as much as 80-90 cm of new snow at higher elevations. This storm snow now covers a crust that was buried on January 17th. Below this crust the upper snowpack which consists of 90 cm of moist to wet snow and three prominent crusts (buried January 10th, January 8th and January 7th respectively). While these crust remain easily identifiable they have been unreactive in recent snowpack tests. The snowpack depth at 1000 m is now about 200 cm.

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