Avalanche forecast

Northwest Inland

Feb 13 – 14, 2016Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

A moderate series of storms will raise avalanche danger for Sunday and again for Tuesday.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3
    New snow and strong forecast winds will set up fresh wind slabs on mainly north to easterly aspects at treeline and in the alpine.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–5
    A buried layer of surface hoar around 60 cm below the surface is cause for concern, especially on open unsupported, or convex slopes.

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Weather Forecast

Sunday: 5-10 cm new snow expected, with the freezing level around 700 m. Winds are expected to be moderate to strong, gusting 40-60 km/r at ridgetop, getting stronger later in the day.  Monday: A short-lived break during the day, possibly accompanied by some flurries. Freezing level around 800 m, winds strong in the morning, becoming light southwesterly.  Monday night and Tuesday: a weak storm is expected to start late on Monday, bringing around 5 cm Monday night, and another 5 cm or so on Tuesday. Freezing levels around 900 m, winds strong southwesterly.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche observations.

Snowpack Summary

Continued snowfall and mostly southwest New wind slabs are developing in the lee of of southwest winds in the alpine and at treeline. Storm snow from last week has settled due to recent warm temperatures. There may be a buried layer of surface hoar in the top 30 cm of the snowpack from early February, this layer was found at Hankin, but has not been widely reported. Crusts may be developing at mid-elevations as the freezing level slowly descends. The early January persistent weak layer of buried surface hoar is down 50-80 cm in most of the region, but may be down a metre or more in the deeper snowpack areas in the southwest of the region. Shallow snowpack areas in the east and north of the region may have a weak base layer of facetted snow on or just above the ground.

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