Avalanche Forecast

South Coast

Date issued

Jan 6, 2018 - 4:45 PM

Valid until

Jan 7, 2018 - 2:00 PM

Prepared by

mbender

Forecast precipitation is due to fall as snow. Avalanche danger will increase as the snowfall begins to accumulate in the coming days.

Regular season
Saturday - January 6, 2018
Alpine

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Treeline

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Below Treeline

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Sunday - January 7, 2018
Alpine

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation,cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible;human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

Treeline

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Below Treeline

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Monday - January 8, 2018
Alpine

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Treeline

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Below Treeline

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs

What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?

20-30cm of new snow is forecast to fall through the day Monday. This new snow has come in warm, is sitting on a newly formed crust and may react as a storm slab in steep terrain or as a wind slab in wind exposed features.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity has been reported.

Snowpack Summary

On Friday January 5th the rain began to fall in earnest. By Friday evening the Strachan weather Station at 1220m had recorded 53mm of total rain fall. This rain has saturated the entire snowpack on all but the highest elevation slopes. Gradually cooling temperatures through the day on Saturday have more than likely created a crust on the surface of the snow at elevations above 1100m. Looking down into the snowpack there are a few prominent melt-freeze crusts that were buried mid-December and are now 50 to 100cm below the surface. Snowpack investigation Friday afternoon revealed rain is not pooling at these crusts with any significance.

The rain has reduced the snowpack depth at 1000m to about 140cm and many early season hazards are still present at lower elevations.

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY: Snow, accumulations 15-25cm / Light to moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -2 

MONDAY:  Flurries, accumulation 5-10cm / Light to moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -1 

TUESDAY: Cloudy with flurries / Light west wind / Alpine temperature -3

Danger Ratings Explained

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

4 - High

Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended.

Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely.

Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas.

5 - Extreme

Avoid all avalanche terrain.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain.

Large to very large avalanches in many areas.

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