Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 26th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
JH,
Avalanche Canada
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
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
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
Expected Size
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
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 27th, 2024 4:00PM
