Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 24th, 2012 9:18AM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is high, and the below treeline rating is high. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Storm Slabs.

triley, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Coastal.

Summary

Confidence

Good - -1

Weather Forecast

The storm will continue to bring heavy precipitation and strong to very strong southwest winds for the forecast period. High freezing levels from Tuesday are expected to drop back to valley bottoms by Wednesday morning.

Avalanche Summary

A couple of natural size 2.0 avalanches were reported on steep NE and SE aspects at and below treeline. Explosive control produced a low elevation avalanche size 2.0 on a south aspect, and a size 3.0 avalanche at 1250 metres on a south aspect. We are not sure what depth or sliding surface the size 3.0 released.

Snowpack Summary

Heavy snowfall and strong southwest winds are building new windslabs and storm slabs above the recent storm snow that has consolidated into a slab. The old windslabs are on south through west aspects, and they are stiff and continue to be easily triggered. New windslabs are building on north through east aspects, making travel a bit tricky; limited options exist for avoiding both types of windslab. The deep snowpack is considered to be well settled with no persistent layers of concern.

Problems

Wind Slabs

The new storm is expected to continue to build windslabs in the alpine and at treeline due to very strong southwest winds and heavy precipitation.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

3 - 6

Storm Slabs

The new storm will add to the storm slab that is sitting above a weak layer that developed during the recent cold weather. Forecast warm temperatures may consolidate this blanket of snow into a cohesive slab that is easily triggered.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

3 - 7

Valid until: Jan 25th, 2012 8:00AM