Avalanche forecast

Northwest Inland

Feb 4 – 5, 2012Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Avalanche danger will peak during the heat of the day.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–5
    Below ridge crests, behind terrain features and in cross-loaded gullies.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–6
    Cornices are expected to become unstable with anticipated warm alpine temperatures.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–4
    Facets down 40-60cm may take some time to gain strength. Watch steep slopes, convex rolls, and unsupported slopes.

Confidence

Fair - Freezing levels are uncertain

Weather Forecast

Expect generally fine weather through the forecast period. Light winds, warm daytime temperatures at alpine elevations and no precipitation.

Avalanche Summary

Large looming cornices are likely to start falling off with warm temperatures and solar radiation. Large slab avalanches that propagate across entire slopes are possible, especially with heavy triggers such as step-down avalanches, cliff-drops, and cornice drops.

Snowpack Summary

Total snowpack depths are well above average or even new record depths for this time of year. Weaknesses within the upper snowpack and the facets and surface hoar buried mid-January, create the potential for large step-down avalanches, but things seem to be settling rapidly.Snowpack tests on the mid-January facets down 80-150cm consistently produce sudden fractures and this weakness seems to be particularly touchy below 1500m where it is shallower and sits on a crust. Weak wind slabs and large fragile cornices are lurking in exposed lee and cross-loaded terrain.

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