Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 11th, 2014 8:28AM

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

esharp, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

Summary

Confidence

Fair

Weather Forecast

Tonight and Sunday: Light to locally moderate snowfall / Moderate to extreme southwest winds / Freezing level at 1100mMonday: Cloudy with flurries / Strong to extreme southwest winds / Freezing levels 900mTuesday: Moderate snow and rain / Strong to extreme southwest winds / Freezing levels 1700m

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches reported.

Snowpack Summary

A recent profile from 1400m elevation on a Northwest aspect in the Hankin area shows the height of snow to be about 155 cm.10-20cm of new snow now overlies heavily wind-affected surfaces at upper elevations and well developed surface hoar at mid-treeline and below. The mid and lower snowpack are found to be generally gaining strength with depth until the bottom 20-40cm where weak faceted crystals exist down to the ground.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Forecast accumulations will add to a developing storm slab. Watch for increased reactivity in wind-affected terrain or in areas where buried surface hoar exists.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Avoid open slopes and convex rolls at and below treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

Triggering a persistent weakness could have nasty consequences. Avoid thin spots, cross-loaded slopes or unsupported terrain.

Avoid thin, rocky or sparsely-treed slopes.>Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Jan 12th, 2014 2:00PM