Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 11th, 2024 2:15PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Wind Slabs, Loose Dry and Deep Persistent Slabs.

Avalanche Canada mkoppang, Avalanche Canada

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Dangerous cold temperatures at this time. Even a minor issue can become a major emergency in these temperatures. Good time to binge watch something on your favorite streaming service.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Visibility was limited on Thursday and no new avalanches were observed. Reports from the public included wind affected features at ridgelines and loose dry slides up to sz 1.5.

Snowpack Summary

We've had up to 32-53 in the last 6 days. With that we've had variable winds, both for direction and intensity. That means we've got a number of windslab layers that are likely buried under the most recent storm snow. These will be relatively quick to settle and bond to one another, but expect reactive slabs in immediate lee areas. Beneath these windslabs there is a layer of either facets, or hard windslab. Further down yet, we have the crust that's hanging in there.

Weather Summary

Well.... COLD! Thats the theme for the next few days! Overnight lows in the mid minus thirty's warming up only a few degrees throughout the day. Winds will be light to moderate out of the NE. No new precip over the next 24hrs.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Windslabs are forming along ridgelines in the recent storm snow.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Dry

An icon showing Loose Dry

Sluffs within the cooler storm snow will be likely from steep unskiable areas.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs

This problem will be with us all season. At higher elevations there is more concern that these deep persistent weak layers could be human triggerable.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Valid until: Jan 14th, 2024 4:00PM

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