Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 24th, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Cornices, Wind Slabs and Loose Wet.
ahanna,
Avalanche Canada
Soft, dry snow can still be found on shady, wind-sheltered aspects at upper elevations. Avalanche problems exist in specific terrain features. Check the distribution icons in the problems tab for details.
Summary
Confidence
High -
Weather Forecast
The region now sits under a warm ridge of high pressure which is expected to persist through the week bringing high freezing levels and sun.Â
Monday night: Clear, light NW wind, freezing levels around 2300 m with an inversion.
Tuesday: A mix of sun and cloud, light NW wind, freezing levels around 2300 m with an inversion.Â
Wednesday: Sunny, light NW wind, freezing levels around 2500 m with an inversion.
Thursday: Sunny, light SW wind, freezing levels around 2500 m with an inversion.Â
Avalanche Summary
Avalanche activity associated with the sustained warm temperatures has been minimal. On Friday and Saturday, small loose wet avalanches were observed out of steep south and east facing terrain and explosive control work produced cornices up to size 2.5. On Friday, natural and skier triggered wind slabs size 1.5-2 were reported.
Snowpack Summary
At mid elevations, moist surfaces or a thin crust can be found on solar aspects, while most aspects at upper elevations remain dry. Wind slabs linger in exposed high elevation terrain, mainly on north and east aspects.Â
The widespread and robust January 16 melt-freeze crust sits up to 30 cm deep, as high as 2100 m. There have been some observations of surface hoar sitting on the crust on polar aspects at treeline and in the alpine north of Pemberton but this does not appear to be widespread. At lower elevations, the previously rain soaked upper snowpack is moist or wet and may be capped with a breakable crust.
The depth of the early December crust/facet layer is highly variable through the region but appears to be typically down 100-200 cm. Some operators are showing the depth as low as 60 cm in shallow snowpack areas and as deep as 3 m in wind loaded terrain. The weak layer is most prominent between 1700 and 2100 m. After showing no reactivity in the peak of the warming event on the weekend, we cautiously reclassify this layer as dormant for now.
Terrain and Travel
- Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.
- Avoid slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if they have large cornices overhead.
- Rocks will heat up with daytime warming and may become trigger points for loose wet avalanches
Problems
Cornices
Warm temperatures and strong sun weaken large overhanging cornices. Stay well back of them when travelling on ridges and avoid slopes exposed to overhead cornice hazard.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Reverse loading from recent moderate winds have formed isolated wind slabs in the alpine. These may remain reactive to human triggers in immediate lees near ridge crest or in extreme terrain.
Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Wet loose avalanches are possible on steep south aspects with warm temperatures and sun. Use caution when the snow on these slopes is moist or wet.
Aspects: South East, South, South West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 25th, 2022 4:00PM
