Bulletin d’avalanche

Sea To Sky

Jan 26 – 27, 2016Avalanche Canada
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Archivé · expiré 11 years ago

Danger d’avalanche

Thu
Fri
Alpin
4 · Fort
Limite forestière
4 · Fort
Sous la limite
3 · Marqué
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Points saillants

Touchy and dangerous conditions still exist in many parts of the region. With a warm, wet and windy storm on the way, the Avalanche Danger will continue to rise.

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Cornices

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1–3
    Recent storms have formed very large and unsupported cornices, and at least one person has taken an unexpected ride. Use extra caution around ridge crests in the alpine.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    3–5
    There are still areas where last week's storm and subsequent avalanche cycle did NOT destroy buried surface crystals. In these areas, loading from rain and snow will continue to stress these layers with the potential for large, destructive avalanches

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Likely - Very Likely
    Taille
    1–3
    New snow, warm temperatures and wind on Wednesday will form dense new storm slabs in high elevation lee terrain. At lower elevations where rain is expected, loose wet avalanches are also possible.

Confidence

Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Wednesday

Weather Forecast

Warm, wet and windy conditions will persist for most of the forecast period. Expect up to 20mm of precipitation on Wednesday with another 30mm possible Wednesday night. Winds on Wednesday will be extreme from the southwest while freezing levels will hover around 2300m. On Thursday, the region should see between 10-20cm of snow, strong southwest winds and freezing levels dropping from 1800 to about 1400m. On Friday continued snowfall is expected with accumulations ranging from 5-15cm. Winds should taper-off dramatically with freezing levels dropping to about 1000m.

Avalanche Summary

Explosives control on Sunday produced a few cornice collapses to size 2. An explosive charge also triggered a size 2 persistent slab avalanche on an adjacent alpine slope where buried surface hoar was lingering. There were also a few human involvements on Sunday. A snowboarder got too close to a recently formed cornice and triggered a size 2 cornice fall. The individual was not injured in the event. Of note, a size 1.5 persistent slab avalanche was also reported on Disease Ridge in the Spearhead Range. An individual was partially buried in the event, but was assisted quickly by their party. Looking forward, continued warm, wet and windy weather is expected to spark ongoing storm slab activity in high elevation lee terrain, but warm temperatures and loading will also increase the likelihood of waking up any lingering persistent weaknesses that were not triggered by last week's storm.

Snowpack Summary

On Wednesday, moderate to heavy snow and strong winds will continue to form deep and dense storm slabs in high elevation terrain and cause substantial cornice growth. At treeline and below, rain is forecast to further saturate the snowpack. In many areas, the early and mid-January surface hoar layers have been wiped-out by last week's storm and subsequent avalanche cycle; however, "sudden" test results and isolated persistent slab avalanches prove these interfaces should remain on your radar. These layers would be down between 80 and 150 cm deep, and still have the capacity to surprise with nasty consequences. The mid and lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of shallower snowpack areas that may be more faceted.

Régions couvertes