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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 10th, 2012–Jan 11th, 2012

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Coast.

Confidence

Good - -1

Weather Forecast

A ridge of high pressure will keep the region dry and sunny for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Winds will be light and variable throughout. Freezing levels will likely hover between 500 and 1000 m, although there is a possibility for an above freezing level layer to encroach on this region for Thursday and Friday.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches have been reported recently from this region.

Snowpack Summary

The upper snowpack comprises a series of storm snow layers, which have generally bonded well to each other and are now gaining strength. Rain fell recently to approximately 1800 m, and has left behind a crust, now buried by a skiff of snow. In the alpine, above the elevation where rain fell, fresh new wind slabs have developed in response to strong southwesterly winds. These were initially from the southwest, but winds have now switched round to the northwest, so expect some reverse loading near ridge crests. Concern for lower snowpack layers remains only in low snowpack areas, such as the east side of the Duffy or in the Chilcotins. Surface hoar and/or facets associated with a crust from mid-December and/or sugary facets at the base of the snowpack could be a concern in sheltered treeline areas that are unusually shallow or on slopes where you can see rocks poking up out of the snow.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.