Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 12th, 2016 9:14AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Storm Slabs.

Avalanche Canada esharp, Avalanche Canada

New snow is sitting on a layer of surface hoar resulting in small, widespread, and reactive storm slabs.

Summary

Confidence

Low - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Moderate to heavy snowfall is expected to continue overnight Tuesday with intermittent flurries or light snow forecast for Wednesday. There is quite a bit of variation in the forecast forecast but I expect between 10 and 25cm of new snow will have fallen by the end of the storm.   Winds will be strong from the southwest becoming light through the day.  The freezing level is expected to hover around 1500m.  Thursday and Friday will be mainly cloudy with sunny periods and no significant precipitation expected.  Winds will be mainly light from the southwest.  The freezing level will be between 1500m and 1000m.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche have been reported as of publishing Tuesday evening.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 10cm  of new snow overlies a crust on steep solar aspects, or a layer of surface hoar on sheltered and shady slopes at all elevations. Moderate to strong southwest through south east winds have been loading lee features. 10 to 15 cm below this is a second buried weak layer again consisting of a melt-freeze crust on solar aspects in the alpine or well-developed surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline and lower elevations. Deeper still, the mid and lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of shallow snowpack areas that may be more faceted.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
The new snow will stress a variety of recently buried old weak surfaces. Conditions are expected to get touchy as storm slabs develop through the day.
Avoid open slopes and convex rolls at and below treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.>The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Jan 13th, 2016 2:00PM