Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 23rd, 2014 7:18AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Deep Persistent Slabs.
jfloyer,
Avalanche Canada
Summary
Confidence
Good
Weather Forecast
A high pressure ridge will continue to bring dry, warm conditions.Friday and Saturday: An inversion will generate an above freezing layer from around 2200 to 3300m. Expect some cloud around 2000 m as well as some strong alpine sunshine. Alpine temperatures will reach around +4C and will feel higher still in the sunshine. Ridgetop winds 20-30 km/h from the NW.Sunday: A cooler day as far as air temperatures go, but cloud dissipating, so treeline areas may actually feel warmer. Slightly windier, with Winds gusting to 30 km/h from the NW.
Avalanche Summary
Minor sluffing up to size 1 was observed in the new snow on Wednesday.
Snowpack Summary
The recent dry, warm weather has generally consolidated the upper snowpack. Old, stubborn hard wind slabs may exist under a skiff of new snow. Steep, sun exposed features are most likely seeing a daily melt-freeze cycle.The biggest concern throughout the region is a layer of weak sugary depth hoar at the base of the snowpack which may coexist with a crust which formed in October. I would continue to be suspicious of any large or unsupported upper elevation slopes, especially if they haven't already avalanched. Possible triggers include a heavy load over a thin spot, a cornice fall or rapid temperature change. Any avalanche failing at this interface would be highly destructive.
Problems
Deep Persistent Slabs
The chance of triggering a deep persistent slab is greatly reduced. However if you did trigger such an avalanche, the consequences would be great. The most suspect slopes would be thin or variable alpine start zones on steep convex slopes.
Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.>Caution around convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>Conditions have improved, but be mindful that deep instabilities are still present.>
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 24th, 2014 2:00PM
