Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 24th, 2015 8:09AM
The alpine rating is Persistent Slabs, Loose Wet and Deep Persistent Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeSummary
Confidence
Poor - Freezing levels are uncertain
Weather Forecast
Rainfall peters out on Sunday morning and temperatures remain unseasonably warm through Monday, with the freezing level climbing to 3300 m. On Tuesday, we expect a brief pulse of light rain turning to light snow. The freezing level drops to around 800 m. Winds are moderate SW for the next three days.
Avalanche Summary
Several naturally-triggered loose wet avalanches were observed below 1750 m at Kootenay Pass on Saturday. Skiers triggered size 1 -1.5 storm slabs on Friday at treeline elevations. These failed on the Jan surface hoar layer buried about 30 cm below the surface.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 15cm new snow (likely shifted by strong W- SW winds into deeper slabs on lee aspects) overlies various surfaces including surface hoar, a thin crust, or a settled slab. Around Kootenay Pass, a freezing rain crust formed above 1750m on Saturday, getting stronger and thicker with increasing elevation. In other areas, warm temperatures may affect the upper snowpack and increase the storm slab problem, which could be touchy above the mid-Jan surface hoar layer (down about 40-60 cm). These large, well-preserved surface hoar crystals sit on a thin crust up to about 1900m on north aspects and all the way to ridgeline on south aspects. A deeper crust/surface hoar combo buried in mid-December continues to be a concern. This layer is typically down 80-100cm and has produced some large avalanches recently. All in all it sounds like a pretty variable and possibly troublesome snowpack. A good time to do some digging and venture gently.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 25th, 2015 2:00PM