South Coast - Inland Avalanche Forecast http://www.avalanche.ca/cac/bulletins/rss/south-coast Avalanche Forecast for South Coast - Inland en-us Friday, February 03, 2012 Copyright 2012, Canadian Avalanche Centre Avalanche Forecast for South Coast - Inland http://www.avalanche.ca/cac/bulletins/cac-forecasts/south-coast

South Coast - Inland

Date Issued   Friday, 03 February 2012 5:23 PM      Valid Until    Saturday, 04 February 2012 11:00 AM


  Danger Ratings

Saturday

Sunday

Monday
Alpine 3 Considerable 3 Considerable 2 Moderate
At Treeline 2 Moderate 2 Moderate 2 Moderate
Below Treeline 2 Moderate 2 Moderate 1 Low


Cornices

What Elevation Zone

Which Slopes

Chance of Avalanches

Expected Size
High winds, moderate temperatures and recent snow will have added to a cornice problem. Cornice fall will be easy to initiate and can become a trigger for the slope below.

Storm Slabs

What Elevation Zone

Which Slopes

Chance of Avalanches

Expected Size
Solar aspects in the alpine may be easily triggered or run naturally due to warm overnight temperatures and daytime solar heating. Avalanches may run full path entraining moist snow below treeline.

Wind Slabs

What Elevation Zone

Which Slopes

Chance of Avalanches

Expected Size
New windslabs are expected to settle and bond with forecast warm temperatures and light winds.



Confidence:

Good


Travel Advisory

  • Extra caution needed around cornices with current conditions.
  • Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.
  • Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, as large avalanches may reach the end of runout zones.
  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating, so travel early on exposed slopes.
  • If you are increasing your exposure to avalanche terrain, do it gradually as you gather information.
  • Whumpfing, shooting cracks and recent avalanches are all strong indicators of an unstable snowpack.
  • Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.


Weather Forecast

Warm daytime temperatures and freezing down to the valley bottoms is expected over the weekend. The freezing level is forecast to rise to about 2000 metres on both Saturday and Sunday. Expect mostly sunny skies and light south to southeast winds through the forecast period.


Avalanche Activity

Explosive control along the Coquihalla corridor produced large avalanches up to size 3.5 from cornice falls pulling slabs on the slopes below. South aspects produced large avalanches running to near full path in the Duffey Lake area. Expect to see continued activity on solar aspects until we get a freeze in the alpine.


Snowpack

Thin sun crusts are developing on steep solar aspects. The recent storm snow continues to settle and bond in the Duffey Lake area due to the warm temperatures and light winds. Recent cornice growth may be easy to trigger with light loads or from solar radiation. The Coquihalla area is also experiencing warm temperatures and light winds. The storm slab in the Coquihalla is about a metre deep and continues to settle and bond with warm temperatures. Concern for steep solar aspects in the alpine with shallow or variable snowpack depths.

Prepared by triley

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