Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 13th, 2021 5:35PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs, Loose Dry and Persistent Slabs.
Deryl Kelly,
Hwy 93 remains closed with tentative opening
Thursday January 14, 2pm.
New snow will need time to settle. Be extremely cautious, use good group travel techniques, and avoid any exposure to terrain traps.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud. no precip. Alpine temperature: High -9 °C. Ridge wind west: 10-20 km/h.
Friday: Cloudy with sunny periods and light flurries. Alpine temperature: Low -11 °C, High -9 °C. Ridge wind west: 20 km/h gusting to 60 km/h.
Snowpack Summary
25cm, and upwards of 55cm storm snow through the forecast region. Jan 12 interface is somewhat of a mystery, possibly a temp or rain crust, FC and/or SH with inconsistent reactivity. All over a supportive mid pack. Basal snowpack is weak facets and depth hoar.
Avalanche Summary
Significant natural cycle up to size 3.5, mostly in the Alpine and open features but, significant observations between 2200m and 1800m, mostly S through Westerly aspects.
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Confidence
Wind effect is extremely variable
Problems
Storm Slabs
Soft slabs 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.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created reactive slabs.
- If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
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.
- Minimize overhead exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
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.
- Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 14th, 2021 4:00PM
