Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 12th, 2024 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada dnylen, Avalanche Canada

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Cold temperatures and the possibility of large avalanches are good reasons to dial back terrain choices and stick to simple objectives if you do plan to go out.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A natural avalanche cycle up to size 2.5 was reported Wednesday continuing into Thursday, including remotely triggered avalanches to size 2. Most storm slab avalanches ran on surface hoar buried on Jan 4. A few size 1-2 wind slabs 30-60 cm deep were triggered by rider traffic, these occurred on north-to-east aspects above 2200 m.

Snowpack Summary

Roughly 40-60 cm of new snow fell in the region early this week. It buried a mix of crusts, surface hoar, and facets. Areas where surface hoar may be preserved are of greatest concern.

A crust formed by early December rain is found ~70 cm deep, and an old layer of surface hoar 60-100 cm deep. Recent observations suggest triggering this layer is unlikely. The lower snowpack is variable throughout the region and weak basal facets are likely to be found on the ground in shallow snowpack areas.

Weather Summary

Friday night

Clear. North alpine wind 10-40 km/h. Treeline temperature -30 °C.

Saturday

Sunny. Variable alpine wind, gusting to 30 km/h at ridgetop. Treeline temperature -26 °C.

Sunday

Partly cloudy. Northwest alpine wind 20-50 km/h. Treeline temperature -22 °C.

Monday

Sunny. Variable, Variable alpine wind 30-60 km/h. Treeline temperature -20 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Watch for signs of slab formation in the new snow, particularly in areas loaded by north winds and where buried surface hoar could be preserved (think sheltered openings at mid elevations).

Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

Recent storm snow covers a crust and isolated surface hoar which has produced natural and rider-trigger avalanches. Investigate this interface. As the fresh snow settles and gains cohesion, a reactive upper snowpack may form.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Valid until: Jan 13th, 2024 4:00PM

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