Storm Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Likely
- Size
- 1–5
Wind-loading may trigger a natural avalanche cycle this weekend. Fast-running loose dry avalanches may also be encountered in areas not affected by the wind.
Avalanche forecast
View on mapNorthwest Coastal
Jan 25 – 26, 2013Avalanche Canada
Archived · expired 14 years ago
Avalanche danger
Sun
Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
Highlights
Avalanche problems
Confidence
Poor - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain for the entire period
Weather Forecast
Saturday: Moderate SW winds, changing to strong to extreme NW. Alpine temperature near -6. 5 cm snow.Sunday: Strong to extreme W to NW winds. Alpine temperature near -8. 10-20 cm snow.Monday: Light W wind. Alpine temperature near -13. Very light snow.
Avalanche Summary
Small soft slabs and loose dry avalanches have been failing naturally and with skier traffic. A size 3 avalanche failed naturally in very steep terrain on Thursday.
Snowpack Summary
Variable amounts of new snow are building up over a medley of surfaces including hard and soft wind slabs, scoured slopes, blue ice, thin melt-freeze crusts and surface hoar. Winds are shifting snow into slabs in the lee of terrain breaks such as ridges and ribs. Two persistent weaknesses (comprising surface hoar and facets) buried in the upper snowpack recently gave moderate to hard, sudden results in snowpack tests. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled and strong, although basal facets remain a concern in the north of the region.