Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 17th, 2018 4:50PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Storm Slabs.

Avalanche Canada cgarritty, Avalanche Canada

Avalanche danger is on the rise as new snow accumulates. Take a cautious approach to terrain selection during the storm.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Weather Forecast

Wednesday night: Flurries bringing 5-10 cm of new snow. Light southeast winds.Thursday: Cloudy with continuing scattered flurries bringing 1-5 cm of new snow. Light southeast winds. Freezing level to around 600 metres with alpine high temperatures to about -5.Friday: Cloudy with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow. Light southeast winds. Freezing level to 500 metres with alpine high temperatures of -5.Saturday: Cloudy with scattered flurries bringing 2-5 cm of new snow. Light to moderate southwest winds. Freezing level to 500 metres with alpine high temperatures around -6.

Avalanche Summary

No recent slab avalanches have been reported. Looking forward, slab avalanche potential will be increasing as new snow accumulates.

Snowpack Summary

New storm slabs are developing on the surface as new snow continues to accumulate. The new snow is falling on a mix of old wind slabs and temperature crusts left over from the weekend. Professionals have been monitoring a few layers in the upper snowpack, including crusts and surface hoar layers buried 40-80 cm below the surface. Although these layers have been reactive in recent snowpack tests, they have not produced avalanches lately. The lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of areas around Stewart and further north where a basal crust and facets exist.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
Forecast snowfall amounts have been downgraded, but fresh storm slabs will still be building over Wednesday night and Thursday. Give the new snow time to form a solid bond to the surface before heading into steeper terrain.
The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.Use extra caution in lee areas above treeline. Slabs will be touchier if wind loading has occurred.Use ridges or ribs to avoid steep pockets of wind loaded snow.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 18th, 2018 2:00PM