Avalanche forecast

Northwest Coastal

Jan 20 – 21, 2012Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–5
    Old stiff windslabs have developed on South through West aspects due to strong northeast winds in the alpine and at treeline. New soft windslabs are expected to develop with the approaching strong southerly winds and new snow.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–4
    Forecast strong southerly winds combined with moderate precipitation may develop a storm slab. If temperatures remain cool the new snow may continue to be loose and dry causing widespread sluffing.

Confidence

Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Saturday

Weather Forecast

Strong northeast outflow winds are expected to continue until at least Saturday afternoon. The temperature is expected to rise to about -12.0 in the alpine by Saturday morning. Blowing snow overnight should accumulate to about 15 cm by Saturday morning. Sometime Saturday afternoon or evening, the winds should shift to the southwest and become strong and gusty. The snowfall is expected to increase overnight, bringing an additional 20 cm by Sunday morning. Precipitation should decrease during the day Sunday, followed by another pulse of warmer wet weather on Monday.

Avalanche Summary

Some natural and cornice triggered avalanches up to size 2.5 have been reported from slopes that were loaded by the recent strong NE winds.

Snowpack Summary

The deep snowpack is considered to be well settled with no persistent layers of concern. Some areas have about 20 cm of dry cold snow above the old storm snow that ended about January 8th. Windslabs that have developed due to strong NE outflow winds have not bonded to this layer. Some areas have developed surface hoar or surface facetting on sheltered slopes in the alpine and at treeline.

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