Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 4th, 2024 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Deep Persistent Slabs.

Avalanche Canada TH, Avalanche Canada

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The deep persistent slab problem warrants concern at treeline and above.

Choose conservative terrain.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed or reported since last weekend.

Snowpack Summary

Trace amounts of snow has buried surface hoar below treeline and sun crusts on steep solar slopes treeline and above. Wind effect and old, hard-slab are found TL and above. A temperature crust from just before Christmas is now buried 5-15 cm below 1900m.

The mid-pack contains a rain crust which can be found as high as 2300m in southern areas.

The basal third of the snowpack consists of a mix of weak facets and depth hoar.

Treeline snow depths range from 60-100 cm.

Weather Summary

Light snowfall will fade to flurries overnight Thursday. West winds will slow to moderate by the morning.

Friday, winds will approach the strong range shifting SW as a low starts to influence the region in the afternoon. 5-10 cm of accumulation is expected through Sunday.

Treeline temperatures are expected to be -5 to -15 C and decrease on Sunday.

For more information, click Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices at this time.
  • Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
  • Use caution when approaching steep and rocky terrian.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs

The bottom of the snowpack is weak, comprising facets and depth hoar. Recent warm temperatures and winds have promoted slab development in the mid and upper snowpack. Use caution with steep or planar slopes where failures of these slabs may be more likely to propagate.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Valid until: Jan 5th, 2024 4:00PM