Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 26th, 2014 8:06AM

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

ali haeri, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Summary

Weather Forecast

The high pressure ridge that has long since over stayed its welcome over the interior is finally starting to breakdown. It will hang in there until wednesday when a weak system will head our way bringing light amounts of snow. Until then the north west flow will have temperatures cooling, the inversion will dissipate with dry clear conditions.

Snowpack Summary

New sun crust on south and west aspects. On north and east slopes 5 to 10cm of light snow sits on a myriad of surfaces. Below 2000m it buried a surface hoar layer and from tree line to the alpine it sits over a hard wind slab. The mid-pack is well settled with no significant shears in the upper 1m, the basal layers are showing a weaker structure.

Avalanche Summary

We had a vague report of a skier triggered avalanche at the entrance to 8812 bowl from Bruins Pass, size 1.5 at 15:30 on Jan 24, with no other details. Numerous loose naturals up to size 2.5 were observed from that afternoon and yesterday throughout the backcountry in the recent storm snow. All originated from steep south and west slopes.

Confidence

Problems

Loose Wet

There's a cooling trend occurring as our weather pattern changes. The temperature inversion will not be as prominent up high however steep south and west slopes may still see loose avalanches with daytime warming and solar radiation.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

This layer has spotty distribution and will need a large load to trigger or can potentially be triggered from thin snowpack areas

Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches due to the presence of buried surface hoar.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

3 - 4

Valid until: Jan 27th, 2014 8:00AM