Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 20th, 2021 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Cornices.
ahanna,
Avalanche Canada
Isolated wind slabs and large overhanging cornices may remain triggerable by humans. Give cornices their space when travelling on ridgetops and check your line for pockets of wind slab beneath ridge crests and on steep roll-overs.
Summary
Confidence
Weather Forecast
Wednesday night: Partly cloudy, light ridgetop wind, freezing level 500 m.
Thursday: Mix of sun and cloud, light wind, alpine high -8, freezing level 800 m.
Friday: Sunny, light wind, alpine high -4, freezing level 500 m.
Saturday: Sunny, light wind, alpine high -8, freezing level valley bottom.
Avalanche Summary
A few small wind slab avalanches have been reported since the weekend. Explosive control targeting cornices on Friday and Saturday produced size 2 results, some triggering deep slabs on the rocky slopes below.
Earlier this month, we saw significant deep persistent slab activity, both natural and human triggered.
Snowpack Summary
Extensive wind effect in the alpine includes scoured windward aspects and hard slabs in lee terrain. Soft snow may be found in sheltered areas around treeline. A widespread surface crust exists below 1900 m and on south-facing slopes.
Remnants of a melt-freeze crust from early December may be found around 200 cm deep in the snowpack. Several large natural and human triggered avalanches failed on this layer earlier this month. Although it still shows propagation and collapse to moderate to hard loading in the most recent snowpack tests, it has become well bridged by overlying snow and crust.
Terrain and Travel
- Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
- Pay attention to isolated alpine features as well as cross-loaded features at treeline.
- Cornices often break further back than expected; give them a wide berth when traveling on ridgetops.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Previously formed wind slabs may remain triggerable by human traffic in isolated terrain features. Cornice falls could also act as potential triggers for avalanches on wind loaded slopes below.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Cornices have grown large, saggy and fragile. A few recent cornice falls have triggered avalanches on the slopes below.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 21st, 2021 4:00PM
