Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 31st, 2014 8:16AM

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

triley, Avalanche Canada

South Coast.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Overnight and Saturday: Clear and cold overnight with light Northerly winds and no precipitation. Mostly sunny with a chance of valley cloud in the morning. Mix of sun and cloud with a chance of very light precipitation in the evening. Light Westerly winds during the day and freezing levels at about 500 metres.Sunday: Mix of sun and cloud with a chance of very light precipitation. Light Northwest winds and freezing levels at about 500 metres.Monday: Mostly sunny with light Northeast winds and alpine temperatures dropping to about -20 C.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches reported. Expect some sloughing from steep terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30 cm of new snow has fallen in the past 48 hours on the Southern inland highway passes. This new snow is sitting on a hard melt-freeze crust that developed after the recent record warm alpine temperatures. Warm temperatures at the beginning of the storm have created a good bond between the new snow and the crust; the new snow dried out as temperatures dropped during the storm and created a "right side up" snowpack. Reports from the Coquihalla tell us that there was a narrow band of surface hoar on North aspects below treeline before the new snow arrived. Only about 10 cm has fallen in the North of the region where more widespread surface hoar and near surface facetting was found before the thin layer of cold dry snow arrived. There continues to be a concern for deeply buried layers of weak facetted crystals, this is mostly a concern on slopes with a shallow and variable snowpack in the Duffey Lake and Chilcotin areas.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Changing winds may have developed pockets of wind slab in the alpine and at treeline. Watch for reverse loading due to shifting wind directions.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Avoid travelling in areas that have been reverse loaded by winds.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deeply buried weak layers of facetted crystals continue to be a concern on slopes with a shallow snowpack.

Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

3 - 6

Valid until: Feb 1st, 2014 2:00PM