Avalog Join
Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Jan 10th, 2017–Jan 11th, 2017
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Sea To Sky.

Watch out for new wind slabs and soft slabs at higher elevations. The snowpack will be slower than usual to heal due to cold temperatures - give it some time to settle before considering bigger lines.

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Cold and clear for a few days. The next weather system arrives Saturday. WEDNESDAY: Sunny. Light northeasterly winds (15-25Km/hr). Freezing level at valley bottom. Alpine high temperatures near -12 Celcius.THURSDAY: Sunny. Light westerly winds 10-15 Km/hr. Freezing level at valley bottom. Alpine high temperatures around -10 Celcius. FRIDAY: Sunny with clouds in the afternoon. Lightly southwesterly winds 10-15 Km/hr. Freezing level at valley bottom. Alpine high temperatures to -8 Celcius.

Avalanche Summary

A widespread soft slab cycle (to Size 1.5) was triggered on northerly aspects with explosives and skier traffic on Monday. No new natural avalanches were observed.

Snowpack Summary

Lingering soft slabs and wind slabs are the primary weaknesses of concern in the snowpack. New snow from Sunday-Monday totalled 18 cm near Whistler while 25-35 cm fell in the upper Callaghan / Powder mountain area - resulting in widespread touchy soft slabs. Winds shifted Tuesday to classic outflow (northerly) patterns with STRONG winds at ridge top This pattern resulted in 'reverse loading' of southerly slopes and has created wind slabs. Please note that with the colder temperatures the snowpack will be slower than usual to heal - give it some time to settle before considering bigger lines. Deeper in the snowpack, the new snow from Sunday night and also last Friday is bonding fairly well to a variable surface consisting of a mix of soft wind slabs, hard wind slabs, sastrugi, faceted snow, and even some surface hoar. Snowpack layers below this interface are generally well bonded, and the lower snowpack is solid.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Watch for soft slabs on sheltered northerly aspects, and wind slabs on 'reverse loaded' southerly aspects.
The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 3