Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 6th, 2015 7:52AM

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

slemieux, Avalanche Canada

Kootenay Boundary.

Avalanche danger is high due to loading from new snow or rain, and wind.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Weather Forecast

The Pineapple Express which has been bringing lots of moisture and warm temperatures over the Southern part of BC, will continue to spread heavy precipitation until the end of the day Saturday, taper off on Sunday and pick up again on Monday as another storm passes through. Freezing levels are expected to hover between 1700m and 2000m and winds to blow moderate to strong from the southwest on Saturday.

Avalanche Summary

A natural slab and loose avalanche cycle up to size 2.5 within the new snow started on Thursday afternoon. I suspect that avalanche conditions were similar on Friday even though poor visibility did not allow for good observations.

Snowpack Summary

The top 30 to 40 cm of snow sitting over the late January crust is now either wet or moist above ~1900m. The rain forecast up to 1900m through Saturday will continue to break down the late January crust, increasing the possibility of avalanches stepping down to deeper weak layers. Avalanche danger will therefore stay high and traveling in the backcountry will remain very dangerous. The mid-January weak layer of buried surface hoar is now down 35-75 cm. The mid-December crust/facet/surface hoar combo is found down 60 - 110 cm and could come out of its dormant stage making for some very large avalanches.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Expect heavy snow to keep accumulating in the alpine adding load to the current storm slab and wind slabs to keep developing on North and NorthEast facing slopes.

Choose regroup spots that are out of avalanche terrain.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Wet Slabs

Wet loose and slab avalanches are expected to slide naturally at elevations where the surface snow will be saturated with water.

Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches due to the presence of buried surface hoar or crust/facet layer.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

3 - 5

Valid until: Feb 7th, 2015 2:00PM