Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 1st, 2024 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada isnowsell, Avalanche Canada

Email

Buried surface hoar layers remain a concern. Snowpack depths and structure are highly variable across the region.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported. There are very few field observations coming from this forecast area. Remember that a lack of avalanche reports does not necessarily mean a lack of avalanche activity.

If you go out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Snowpack Summary

A surface crust may exist in regions that recently experienced warm alpine temperatures. The upper snowpack is typically well settled, with no current layers of concern.

The mid-pack contains various noteworthy layers; including surface hoar with a crust at a depth of 20 to 40 cm, a significant crust from the early December rain event down around 50 cm, and a second layer of surface hoar down 50 to 90 cm.

The base of the snowpack is generally facetted.

The snowpack is particularly complex, with considerable variation in structure and depths across the region.

Weather Summary

Monday night

Partly cloudy with no precipitation, southwest alpine winds 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -5 °C.

Tuesday

Mix of sun and cloud with no precipitation, south alpine winds 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -5 °C.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy with no precipitation, southwest alpine winds 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -4 °C.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with trace snow amounts, southwest alpine winds 30 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices at this time.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

A layer of surface hoar is down 50 to 90 cm and remains problematic where a significant crust is not found above it.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Valid until: Jan 2nd, 2024 4:00PM