Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 24th, 2014 7:58AM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low.

jfloyer, Avalanche Canada

As danger approaches low across the board, it's a good time to remind ourselves that low danger doesn't mean no danger. Food for thought on this blog post.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

A high pressure ridge will continue to bring dry, warm conditions.Saturday: An inversion will generate an above freezing layer from around 1800 to 3200m. Expect cloud to around 1800 m as well as some strong alpine sunshine. Alpine temperatures will reach around +3C and will feel higher still in the sunshine. Ridgetop winds 20-30 km/h from the NW.Sunday and Monday: Dry, with a mix of sun and cloud, becoming clear by Monday afternoon. Air temperature cooling significantly (expected max of -2C on Sunday and -6C on Monday). Winds light northerly.

Avalanche Summary

A size 2.5 natural avalanche was reported from Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park. The slide ran on a 45 degree E aspect slope at 2300 m and was suspected of being triggered by intense solar radiation. It stepped down twice and ran to ground.

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.A basal facet/crust combo (weak sugary snow above and below a crust) near the ground is still a concern in some areas. The depth of this layer makes triggering an avalanche on it unlikely (maybe a heavy load on a thin spot in steep terrain, rapid temperature change, or cornice fall), but the consequences would be large and very destructive.

Valid until: Jan 25th, 2014 2:00PM