Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 4th, 2018 5:10PM

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

mbender, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

Some snow in the forecast but not enough to influence avalanche danger in the short term.

Summary

Confidence

Low - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, accumulation overnight Thursday into Friday 5cm / Moderate to strong southwest wind / Alpine temperature -3 SATURDAY: Cloudy with flurries / moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -5 SUNDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries / Light to moderate south wind / Alpine temperature -4

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported in the past few days.

Snowpack Summary

Surface snow has been affected by winds from a variety of directions. The degree of wind effect varies throughout the region. Sheltered areas may still have 10-30 cm of powder from previous storms. A variable weak layer that formed in mid-December can be found roughly 20 cm below the surface. This mid-December layer is comprised of crusts on solar aspects and feathery surface hoar in sheltered locations.The lower snowpack is generally well settled with two prominent crusts. The late-November crust can be found 30-50 cm below the surface and the October crust is near the base of the snowpack.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Lingering pockets of wind slab may exist on a range of aspects at higher elevations as wind directions have varied over the past week.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 5th, 2018 2:00PM