Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 19th, 2025 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.
Avalanche Canada,
Avalanche Canada
Weak layers remain sensitive to human triggering, producing large avalanches.
Avoid exposure to large, open slopes - including overhead hazard.
Summary
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
On Saturday explosive, natural and remotely triggered avalanches continued, producing size 2 to 3 avalanches. Several triggered as wind slabs on steep slopes, before stepping down to the December crust/facets/surface hoar. Activity was concentrated on northwest through east face slopes at treeline and above.
Natural activity will likely continue to decrease, but the snowpack is expected to remain primed for human triggering.
Snowpack Summary
Light snowfall will bury a layer of surface hoar in sheltered areas. Previous storm accumulations of up to 80 cm were heavily wind affected by west/southwest winds in exposed areas.
A layer of surface hoar, facets, or a thin crust is buried 30 to 60 cm deep at upper elevations.
Buried 100 to 200 cm deep is the current layer of concern - surface hoar, facets, and a crust. This layer produced large natural avalanches during the recent storm and continues to be very reactive to triggers.
Weather Summary
Sunday Night
Increasing cloud. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -13 °C.
Monday
Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Tuesday
Partly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Wednesday
Cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.
- Remote triggering is a concern; avoid terrain where triggering overhead slopes is possible.
- Choose low-angled, sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
- Avoid freshly wind-loaded terrain features.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Large avalanches on this layer continue. It is most triggerable in areas where the snowpack thins (steep, rocky slopes).
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs likely remain reactive. Be especially cautious if you observe active wind transport of snow. Wind slabs may step down to deeper persistent weak layers, producing very large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 20th, 2025 4:00PM
