Hwy 93 will be closed 1700hrs January 12 Atha Falls to Sask Crossing with tentative opening January 14 late morning.
Be mindful of overhead exposure and terrain choice as we are expecting a descent avalanche cycle in the next couple days.
Use caution around thin to thick areas where buried deeper weak layers could be triggered. The surface hoar layer down 40-70cm seems unreactive and spotty distribution but keep it on your radar especially with the new snow load.
Ice climbers be wary of this problem as even small avalanches can have serious consequences. Wet loose in steep terrain below treeline may also become a problem depending on the freezing level and potential rainfall.
Wind slab developing on lee aspects in the alpine and open tree line; storm slab building all aspects tree line and below. January 12 interface includes previous hard slab in the alpine and patchy surface hoar sheltered tree line and below tree line.
A strong warm frontal system will bring moderate to heavy precipitation overnight Tuesday into early Wednesday (up to 40cm). Southerly winds will increase to moderate and strong values. The freezing level will rise up to 1600m overnight Tuesday falling to valley bottom mid day Wednesday. A clearing trend will follow.
Up to 40cm of snow is forecast overnight Tuesday into Wednesday accompanied by moderate to strong southerly winds. The freezing level may reach 1600m; rain is likely at lower elevations. The new snow will fall upon a supportive mid pack except regions with a shallow snowpack like the Maligne range. Basal snowpack is weak facets and depth hoar.
No new avalanche activity observed or reported; no patrol today.
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