Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 28th, 2014 8:15AM

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

triley, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Coastal.

Some thin new wind slabs are expected to develop with the forecast new snow. New snow is not expected to bond well to the old hard surface where surface hoar and/or facets exist.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Overnight and Wednesday: Overcast with moderate Westerly winds overnight and 3-5 cm of snow above about 700 metres. The freezing level is expected to continue to drop during the day as light flurries continue.Thursday: A few more cm of snow are forecast for the morning before the winds shift to the Northeast and colder arctic air enters the region.Friday: Mostly clear with moderate Northerly winds and freezing levels at valley bottoms. Alpine temperatures around -15.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches reported.

Snowpack Summary

Below freezing temperatures have developed a solid melt-freeze crust at all elevations and on most aspects. Some dry facetted snow may exist on sheltered North aspects. New surface hoar has been reported on slopes that are sheltered from the sun at and below treeline.Â A well settled mid and lower snowpack may rest on basal facets, especially in thin snowpack areas at higher elevations.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

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

Avoid open slopes and convex rolls at and below treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.>Avoid convexities or areas with a thin, rocky or variable snowpack.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

4 - 7

Valid until: Jan 29th, 2014 2:00PM