Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 17th, 2012 9:24AM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Avalanche Canada jlammers, Avalanche Canada

Forecast snowfall amounts and wind speeds are uncertain for Friday night. If the intensity of the weather is greater than expected, the avalanche danger could rise at treeline and in the alpine on Saturday.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Friday

Weather Forecast

Saturday: light accumulations of new snow / light southeasterly winds / freezing level @ 1000m Sunday: trace amounts of snowfall / light to moderate northwesterly winds / freezing level @ 700m Monday: light snowfall / strong westerly winds / freezing level @ 1000m

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity has been reported. Expect new wind slab avalanche activity with forecast weather on Friday night.

Snowpack Summary

Light amounts of recently fallen snow (up to 20cm in the Coquihalla) sit over an assortment of old snow surfaces comprising, depending on location, crusts, old wind slab, surface hoar and surface facets. The crusts formed on all aspects below 1700m and on steep solar aspects higher up. Surface facets have grown particularly on northern aspects where colder temperatures have persisted. Lightly buried surface hoar is most prominent at treeline and below and is most likely to be found in the north and central parts of the region. The upper snowpack structure will be the thing to watch as the overlying slab develops with forecast weather. In general the mid and lower snowpack are strong and well settled. A recent profile at 1240m on a south aspect in the Coquihalla area showed a number of sudden test results in the top 100cm. Conditions reportedly improved substantially on other aspects. This is a good reminder that spatial variability exists and that we should continually make observations as we travel.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Wind slabs will develop over the course of Friday night on lee features. With the current snowpack structure and forecast winds, they may be easily reactive to the weight of a skier.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Feb 18th, 2012 9:00AM

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