Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 22nd, 2022 3:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
JMackenzie,
Avalanche Canada
Keep an eye on daytime heating and solar input. If these factors are significant, then avalanche danger will rise. Deeper instabilities could produce large avalanches.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate -
Weather Forecast
Another nice day is expected for Sunday with mostly sunny skies and a high between -5 and -1. Winds will be strong from the NW and no precipitation is expected. Freezing levels are forecasted to be near 1700m, but steeper solar aspects will feel the punch of the sun.
Avalanche Summary
Minor pin-wheeling on steep solar aspects at lower elevations on Saturday afternoon. No new avalanche activity observed or reported.
Snowpack Summary
Moist snow on some solar aspects (that will be frozen into a crust Sunday morning), but this was limited somewhat by wind and occasional clouds on Saturday. Widespread wind effect and wind slabs in the alpine and open areas at treeline. In sheltered locations up to 15cm of lower density snow overlies previous surfaces, which gives acceptable skiing. The Dec crust layer down 100 to 140cm is faceting and produces moderate to hard shears. Forecasters continue to keep a close eye on this persistent weak layer, despite a long spell of no activity associated with it. If/when it re-awakens, large avalanches are possible.
Terrain and Travel
- Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
- Be aware that wet activity at low elevations is a classic situation for step-down failures in deeply buried persistent weak layers.
- Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to the presence of a persistent slab.
- Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
Problems
Wind Slabs
The buried wind slab will be hard to trigger but if you are able to get it to go from a thin area, it could produce a large avalanche. Thin wind slabs are also being found along ridgelines. At treeline these slabs may step down to the December crust.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
If the freezing level elevation and/or solar input is significant we may see this layer wake up. Pay close attention to temperatures throughout the day. This problem primarily exists below 2200m. Dig and evaluate.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 23rd, 2022 3:00PM
