Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 8th, 2020 5:07PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
Brian Webster,
Parks Canada
Dangerous avalanche conditions exist in alpine a tree-line locations. Conservative route choices are required.
Summary
Weather Forecast
An arctic high pressure forms over Alberta on Thursday bring cooler temperatures, and only minor flurries. Winds will diminish as the high pressure develops. Day time highs at treeline only rising to the mid minus teens. Cooler temps will persist through the weekend.
Snowpack Summary
20-40 cm of snow, and strong wind from last few days have formed fresh wind and storm slabs. At tree line, new snow sits on pockets of surface hoar in sheltered areas and sun crust on steep solar aspects. Generally, a settled mid-pack sits over a weaker lower snowpack consisting of facets, depth hoar and crusts.
Avalanche Summary
Fresh wind slabs (both natural and skier cut) up to size1.5 in the alpine reported throughout the area today.
Confidence
Problems
Storm Slabs
Recent storm snow and mod to strong winds have created storm and wind slabs in alpine and treeline elevations. It will take several days for these instabilities to settle out.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created storm slabs.
- If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
The potential for deeper releases on the basal layers still exist. If this occurs avalanches will be large and will run to valley bottoms.
- Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 9th, 2020 4:00PM
