Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 25th, 2013 9:11AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Storm Slabs.

Avalanche Canada pgoddard, Avalanche Canada

Summary

Confidence

Poor - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain for the entire period

Weather Forecast

Saturday: Moderate SW winds, changing to strong to extreme NW. Alpine temperature near -6. 5 cm snow.Sunday: Strong to extreme W to NW winds. Alpine temperature near -8. 10-20 cm snow.Monday: Light W wind. Alpine temperature near -13. Very light snow.

Avalanche Summary

Small soft slabs and loose dry avalanches have been failing naturally and with skier traffic. A size 3 avalanche failed naturally in very steep terrain on Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

Variable amounts of new snow are building up over a medley of surfaces including hard and soft wind slabs, scoured slopes, blue ice, thin melt-freeze crusts and surface hoar. Winds are shifting snow into slabs in the lee of terrain breaks such as ridges and ribs. Two persistent weaknesses (comprising surface hoar and facets) buried in the upper snowpack recently gave moderate to hard, sudden results in snowpack tests. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled and strong, although basal facets remain a concern in the north of the region.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
Wind-loading may trigger a natural avalanche cycle this weekend. Fast-running loose dry avalanches may also be encountered in areas not affected by the wind.
Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 5

Valid until: Jan 26th, 2013 2:00PM