Date Issued: Monday, January 25, 2021, 04:00
Valid Until: Tuesday, January 26, 2021, 04:00
Prepared by: kdevine

This is an archived avalanche bulletin.

Conditions are changing quickly on the South Coast. Expect our new snow to react easily to light triggers anywhere slopes are steep enough to produce avalanches. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.

Danger ratings

Tuesday - All Elevations: 3 - Considerable

Travel and Terrain Advice

    Use increased caution at all elevations. Storm snow is forming touchy slabs.
    Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.
    Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.
	
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slab
What Elevation? - All
Which Slopes? - All
Chances of Avalanches? - Very Likely to Certain
Expected Size? - Small to Medium

Up to 40 cm of new snow is expected to accumulate before the end of the day on Monday and form touchy storm slabs over fragile surface hoar and slippery crust. This is a recipe for dangerous avalanche conditions at all elevations and on all aspects. 

Avalanche Summary

We don't yet have reports of avalanche activity from the initial hours of the storm, but it's safe to assume that conditions are becoming increasingly touchy as sufficient snow falls to form slabs over the range of weak surfaces that have been buried.

Expect touchy avalanche conditions to continue on Monday, with slabs equal to the depth of newly accumulated snow likely to release naturally or with human triggers on sufficiently steep slopes.

Snowpack Summary

30-40 cm of dry snow is expected to accumulate in the region by the end of the day on Monday. The new snow has already buried a widespread crust which recently began to facet as well as form surface hoar crystals on top, especially on north aspects. New snow is not expected to bond well with this surface!

Under the frozen block, the remainder of the snowpack is well consolidated.

Weather Summary

Sunday night: Cloudy with continuing snowfall bringing 10-20 cm of new snow. Light southeast winds.

Monday: Cloudy with continuing flurries bringing another 10 cm of new snow, with 2-day snow totals reaching about 30-40 cm, continuing overnight. Light south winds. Treeline high temperatures around -6.

Tuesday: Cloudy with continuing isolated flurries and a final trace of new snow, with 3-day snow totals around 40-50 cm. Moderate southeast winds. Treeline high temperatures around -6.

Wednesday: Cloudy with scattered flurries continuing from overnight and about 5 total cm of new snow. Light southeast winds. Treeline high temperatures around -7.

Confidence - High, Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain.