Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 26th, 2024 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada JH, Avalanche Canada

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Avalanche hazard may rise quickly with warming temps and increased wind.

Be prepared to dial back your objective quickly if there are obvious signs of wind transport at ridgetop, or if the forecast freezing levels (1600m) are exceeded.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control just West of the park produced a size 3 storm slab avalanche in a large Southerly feature on Friday.

We observed isolated naturals in the highway corridor over last few days, triggered by southerly winds at upper elevations, and high freezing levels in valley bottom avalanche paths.

Riders have been triggering isolated small slabs this week in the moistening snow on steep features below treeline. These were failing down 30-40 cm on the Jan 3 crust.

Snowpack Summary

Warm temperatures and wind effect at upper elevations, has created a soft storm slab. This overlies variable wind effect in open terrain, and faceted snow in sheltered areas.

A sun crust (Jan 3), down 50cm and most prominent at and below Tree-line on S-SW aspects, has been a failure plane for a few recent human triggered avalanches.

The Dec 1 surface hoar layer is down ~110cm and is decomposing.

Weather Summary

2 frontal systems impacting the interior Friday night and then Sunday morning will bring warm temps, moderate snowfall and SW wind.

Tonight: Flurries (5cm), Alpine low -6°C. Light SW ridgetop winds.

Sat: Flurries (2-4cm). High -1°C, Moderate SW winds, Freezing level (FZL)1600m.

Sun: Snow (up to 20cm). Low -2°C, High 0°C. Moderate to strong SW winds, FZL 1900m

Mon: Isolated flurries. Low -1°C, High 2°C. FZL 2700m.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

Recent snow, accompanied by variable wind and mild temps, has created a soft slab that is most reactive near ridgelines and on convex slopes at lower elevations. Above Tree-line, these storm slabs are thicker and more reactive in windloaded lee features.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

This problem is most reactive on South through West aspects, where a sun crust exists 40-70 cm deep.

Aspects: South, South West.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Jan 27th, 2024 4:00PM

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