Subject: January 17, 2005 Avalanche Forecast South Columbia Region Forecast of avalanche danger beginning Monday, January 17, 2005: Day:\Monday p.m.\Tuesday\Wednesday Alpine:\High\Extreme\High Treeline:\High\Extreme\High Below Treeline:\High\High\High Travel Advisory: Heavy amounts of new snow, strong southwest winds and warming temperatures make for easy travel advice to amateur recreators: keep clear of avalanche terrain for the forecast period. Large avalanches could run fast and far as heavy snow soaked by rain below 2000m will sit on top of critically weak layers. In particular, travellers should think about what kind of slopes are above them as avalanches originating in alpine areas could slide down to valley bottoms. Avalanches: Widespread natural avalanche activity is expected as new snow accumulates. Timing for the most intense period of avalanche activity will probably be Tuesday as rain begins at treeline. Avalanches in the Purcells near Golden and Invermere could step down to a deeper layer of facets from November; if this happens the slabs will be unusually wide, and will be the kind of avalanches that rip out slopes from side to side. They may not be frequent, but you sure wouldn't want to be there when they happen. Snowpack: Lots of storm snow and soft and hard windslabs sit on a weak faceted layer. More windslabs will build on north and east facing slopes during the storm. In the Purcells, a weak faceted snowpack will be rapidly loaded for the first time. Weather: The forecaster at the Meteorological Service of Canada describes the current weather as a "strong pineapple express". Snowfall amounts will be 30-50 cm by Tuesday evening with the latest information indicating that this is on the conservative side. Freezing levels will top out above 2000 m on Tuesday evening. North Columbia Region Forecast of avalanche danger beginning Monday, January 17, 2005: Day:\Monday p.m.\Tuesday\Wednesday Alpine:\High\Extreme\High Treeline:\High\Extreme\High Below Treeline:\High\High\High Travel Advisory: Heavy amounts of new snow, strong southwest winds and warming temperatures make for easy travel advice to amateur recreators: keep clear of avalanche terrain for the forecast period. Large avalanches could run fast and far as heavy snow soaked by rain below 2000m will sit on top of critically weak layers. In particular, travellers should think about what kind of slopes are above them as avalanches originating in alpine areas could slide down to valley bottoms. Avalanches: Natural avalanches will be likely through the forecast period. As rain begins near treeline on Tuesday expect widespread natural avalanche activity. With the underlying weak layer, avalanches could be large and fast moving. With a heavy load of new snow, travellers in the Cariboo Mountains should leave open the possibility that very large avalanches could occur on the deep facet layer from November. Snowpack: With the new snow falling on Monday and Tuesday there will be 50-80 cm of snow on top of a weak layer of facets and/or surface hoar. The snowpack will not be able to sustain this new load and natural avalanche activity will occur. Weather: The forecaster at the Meteorological Service of Canada describes the current weather as a "strong pineapple express". Snowfall amounts will be 30-50 cm by Tuesday evening with the latest information indicating that this is on the conservative side. Freezing levels will top out at 2000 m on Tuesday evening. Issued by GJ, JK Subject: January 17, 2005 Canadian Avalanche Centre Updated Forecast South Columbia Region Forecast of avalanche danger beginning Tuesday, January 18, 2005: Day:\Monday pm\Tuesday\Wednesday Alpine:\High\Extreme\Extreme Treeline:\High\Extreme\Extreme Below Treeline:\High\High\High Update Tuesday January 18, 2005, 17:00. Strong southwest winds will persist through Wednesday; continued wet snowfall in alpine and treeline areas will form extensive dangerous windslabs on north and east lee slopes. Widespread avalanche activity will persist with these conditions. Avalanches have the potential to be large, running into valley bottoms. Travel Advisory: Heavy amounts of new snow, strong southwest winds and warming temperatures make for easy travel advice to amateur recreators: keep clear of avalanche terrain for the forecast period. Large avalanches could run fast and far as heavy snow soaked by rain below 2000m will sit on top of critically weak layers. In particular, travellers should think about what kind of slopes are above them as avalanches originating in alpine areas could slide down to valley bottoms. Avalanches: Widespread natural avalanche activity is expected as new snow accumulates. Timing for the most intense period of avalanche activity will probably be Tuesday as rain begins at treeline. Avalanches in the Purcells near Golden and Invermere could step down to a deeper layer of facets from November; if this happens the slabs will be unusually wide, and will be the kind of avalanches that rip out slopes from side to side. They may not be frequent, but you sure wouldn^Òt want to be there when they happen. Snowpack: Lots of storm snow and soft and hard windslabs sit on a weak faceted layer. More windslabs will build on north and east facing slopes during the storm. In the Purcells, a weak faceted snowpack will be rapidly loaded for the first time. Weather: The forecaster at the Meteorological Service of Canada describes the current weather as a ^Óstrong pineapple express^Ô. Additional snowfall of 30 cm is expected by Wednesday night. Freezing levels will top out at 2000 m on Tuesday evening. North Columbia Region Forecast of avalanche danger beginning Tuesday, January 18, 2005: Day:\Monday pm\Tuesday\Wednesday Alpine:\High\Extreme\Extreme Treeline:\High\Extreme\Extreme Below Treeline:\High\High\High Update Tuesday January 18, 2005, 17:00. Strong southwest winds will persist through Wednesday; continued wet snowfall in alpine and treeline areas will form extensive dangerous windslabs on north and east lee slopes. Widespread avalanche activity will persist with these conditions. Avalanches have the potential to be large, running into valley bottoms. Travel Advisory: Heavy amounts of new snow, strong southwest winds and warming temperatures make for easy travel advice to amateur recreators: keep clear of avalanche terrain for the forecast period. Large avalanches could run fast and far as heavy snow soaked by rain below 2000m will sit on top of critically weak layers. In particular, travellers should think about what kind of slopes are above them as avalanches originating in alpine areas could slide down to valley bottoms. Avalanches: Natural avalanches will be likely through the forecast period. As rain begins near treeline on Tuesday expect widespread natural avalanche activity. With the underlying weak layer, avalanches could be large and fast moving. With a heavy load of new snow, travellers in the Cariboo Mountains should leave open the possibility that very large avalanches could occur on the deep facet layer from November. Snowpack: With the new snow falling on Monday and Tuesday there will be 50-80 cm of snow on top of a weak layer of facets and/or surface hoar. The snowpack will not be able to sustain this new load and natural avalanche activity will occur. Weather: The forecaster at the Meteorological Service of Canada describes the current weather as a ^Óstrong pineapple express^Ô. Additional snowfall of 30 cm is expected by Wednesday night. Freezing levels will top out at 2000 m on Tuesday evening. Issued by GJ, JK