Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 6th, 2017–Jan 7th, 2017

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Glacier.

Touchy wind slabs above treeline are the main avalanche problem today. A small avalanche in exposed terrain could have serious consequences.

Weather Forecast

A mix of sun and cloud is forecast for today as an unsettled weather pattern disrupts the ridge of high pressure. Freezing levels remain at valley bottom with a slightly warmer alpine high of -14. Ridge winds south 10-20 km/h. A SW flow arrives on Monday with up to 15cm of new snow before a return to cold high pressure.

Snowpack Summary

Earlier this week, strong N'ly winds hammered exposed slopes at treeline and above. Widespread wind slabs exist in most of the alpine. At treeline and below, the Dec 26 surface hoar layer is down 20-50cm and field teams have reported that it is becoming reactive. The Dec 18 facet layer is down 80cm and the Nov 13 crust is down 1.5 - 2 metres.

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, skiers accidentally triggered a size 1.5 windslab on a SW aspect at 2350m (see their MIN for details). In the region there were several similar reports of triggerable wind slabs up to 50cm deep. There have been no natural avalanches observed in the park for a few days. In addition there have been reports of cornices failing.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.