Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 23rd, 2025 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
Avalanche Canada,
Avalanche Canada
Watch for reactive slabs in wind-loaded areas where the snow is deeper and stiffer. Uncertainty remains about how weak layers deep in the snowpack.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday visibility hindered observations, however fresh snow and wind resulted in natural storm slab avalanches to size 3 and wind slabs to size 1 triggered by rider traffic.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 30 cm of new snow has accumulated since the weekend, with lower amounts in inland areas. Westerly winds have redistributed this new snow into deeper deposits in leeward terrain. A layer of weak surface hoar crystals may exist beneath the new snow in wind-sheltered terrain, while previously wind-affected surfaces have been buried elsewhere.
Deeper in the snowpack, approximately 100 to 200 cm below the surface, a crust with faceted crystals, and/or surface hoar, buried in early December, persist.
The lower snowpack is generally well-settled with no current concerns.
Weather Summary
Thursday night
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, up to 5 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Friday
Partly cloudy. 25 to 45 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Saturday
Mostly sunny. 30 to 60 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.
Sunday
Sunny. 40 to 60 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Give the new snow several days to settle and stabilize before pushing into bigger terrain.
- Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Expect to find stiffer and deeper deposits of snow in wind-loaded areas. Reactive slabs will continue to form as wind redistributes the recent snow.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
A widespread crust with surface hoar and/or facets, buried in early December is buried 100 to 200 cm deep. The same layer has been responsible for several large, destructive avalanches in regions to the north.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 24th, 2025 4:00PM
