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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 14th, 2013–Jan 15th, 2013

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

Regions

Cariboos.

Confidence

Poor - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Monday night and Tuesday: A high pressure dominates the weather bringing dry conditions. Freezing level are expected to rise up to 2500 m. and the sun to shine in the alpine while valley clouds are expected. Winds should be strong from the Northwest.Wednesday: Dry, sunny and warm conditions persist. Thursday: A cold front should lower freezing levels and bring some light snow.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported in the region.

Snowpack Summary

The upper snowpack instabilities that were starting to settle will most likely become unstable again with the continuation of the warming trend and additional solar radiation tomorrow.  Read the forecaster's blog to learn more about this process. Last week's storm snow and yesterday's snow is sitting above weak surfaces including surface hoar (found especially below about 1600 m in sheltered areas), facets and also on a sun crust on South facing slopes. Where it exists, the buried surface hoar is producing sudden collapse results and is sitting at a prime depth for triggering with rapid warming. Recent winds and some new snow have also left wind slabs in the lee of terrain breaks such as ridges and ribs at alpine elevations and also buried old windslabs. A strong mid-pack overlies a weak facet/crust layer near the base of the snowpack. Check out yesterday's YouTube video which demonstrates some of the weak layers and test results found around Valemount BC.

Problems

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.

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.