Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 19th, 2017 4:48PM
The alpine rating is Storm Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeConditions are primed for people triggering avalanches. Don't let the lure of deep powder draw you into terrain that's inappropriate for the conditions.
Summary
Confidence
High -
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY: Mainly cloudy with the possibility of isolated flurries, light south wind and freezing level around 1300m.SATURDAY: Mainly cloudy with the possibility of isolated flurries, light south wind and freezing level dropping to around 1000m.SUNDAY: Flurries with another 5-10 cm possible, moderate southerly winds and freezing levels remaining around 1000m.
Avalanche Summary
Reports from Wednesday include widespread natural and human-triggered 20-40 cm thick Size 1-2 storm slab avalanches. Expect continued natural wind and storm slab avalanche activity with heavy loading from snow and wind, and lingering human-triggered avalanche potential for the forecast period. Also, expect deeper persistent weaknesses to become more reactive with continued snow and wind-loading and warm temperatures.
Snowpack Summary
By Thursday morning another 15-25 cm added the previous 15-25 cm of fresh snow accompanied by moderate to strong southerly winds. This has resulted in touchy storm and wind slabs bonding poorly to the previous snow surface that includes facets and large surface hoar on sheltered slopes and/or a sun crust on steep sun-exposed aspects, as well as wind-affected surfaces (e.g. hard wind slab, sastrugi, scoured crust, etc.) in exposed areas. The mid-December surface hoar/ facet layer is now likely down 50-90 cm and may become reactive again with continued loading and warming. In thin rocky areas, particularly in the Rossland range, recent reports include easy sudden collapse snowpack test results on facets down 120-150 cm near the ground. This deep persistent weakness may also become reactive with continued loading and warming.
Problems
Storm Slabs
New snow is bonding poorly to the previous snow surface. Expected avalanche likelihood and size to increase with increased snow and wind-loading. Slabs will be particulary deep and touchy on wind-loaded northerly aspects near ridge crests.
Watch for signs of instability such as whumpfing, or cracking. The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 20th, 2017 2:00PM