Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 1st, 2019 5:11PM

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

jsmith, Avalanche Canada

South Coast Inland.

Fresh storm slabs may be primed for human triggers. Start in simple terrain to test the bond of the new snow.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY NIGHT: Snow; 5-10 cm. / Strong, southwesterly winds / Low -8 / Freezing level 600 m.SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light, westerly winds / High -9 C / Freezing level 400 m.SUNDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries; 1-3 cm. / Light, northwesterly winds / High-18 C / Freezing level surface.MONDAY: Mostly sunny / Light, northwesterly winds / High -18 C / Freezing level surface.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches were reported in the region on Thursday. However, fresh storm slabs are likely to remain reactive to human triggers on Saturday.

Snowpack Summary

15-30 cm of new snow with moderate southwesterly winds have covered a variety of snow surfaces. These include crusts on all but northerly aspects, wind-pressed surfaces on northerly aspects in the alpine, and a mixture of surface hoar (weak feathery crystals) and surface facets (sugary grains) in terrain sheltered from wind/sun at treeline and below.Around 50-80 cm down is a melt-freeze crust to mountain top on southerly aspects, a crust below around 1700 m on all aspects, and feathery surface hoar in areas sheltered by the wind/sun at treeline elevations. The remainder of the snowpack is currently well-settled and strong in most locations.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Fresh storm slabs may be primed for human triggers. Start in simple terrain to test the bond of the new snow.

Stay alert to changing conditions with elevation.Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.Use small slopes without consequence to test the bond of the new snow.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

Around 50-80 cm of snow sits above a weak layer of surface hoar. This layer is likely best preserved in shaded and sheltered areas between 1700 m and 2000 m.

Avoid large slopes that would have big consequence if this deeper layer was triggered.Smaller storm slab avalanches in motion could 'step-down' and trigger this layer.

Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.

Elevations: Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 2nd, 2019 2:00PM