Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 11th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
TH,
Avalanche Canada
Its COLD.
If you choose to go out: think carefully about the consequences of an accident or equipment failure that could prevent you from moving to stay warm.
Bring extra clothing, extra equipment (like a sleeping bag and stove), choose extra low commitment terrain, and leave yourself extra time to get back to the car well before dark.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed or reported on Thursday.
Wednesday, Lake Louise teams reported small ,soft slabs, to size 1.5 failing with explosives (20 of 24 shots) on NE alpine features that were 10-20cm deep. Some of these remotely triggered slabs in adjacent features. They also remotely triggered a small slab on a steep treeline feature that failed on a sun crust. Meanwhile, at Sunshine, teams reported a few small soft wind slabs on lee features.
Snowpack Summary
There is now 20-60 cm of snow forming a soft slab in some locations over the Dec 31 layer that is comprised of surface hoar in sheltered areas and a spotty sun crust on steep solar slopes at tree line and above.
The mid pack is supportive and contains two temperature or rain crusts (Dec. 22nd and Dec 5th) that reach as high as 2300m.
The base of the snowpack consists of weak facets and depth hoar.
Treeline snow depths range from 80 -130 cm.
Weather Summary
The Arctic air fully asserts itself Thursday night: temperatures drop to near -40 C as skies clear and light to moderate winds continue out of the NE.
Expect gap winds in the main valleys such as the "Yoho Blow" to be in effect.
Friday, light to moderate winds will shift to the NW and temperatures reach a daytime high near -30 to -35C.
For more information, click Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
- If triggered, storm slabs in-motion may step down to deeper layers and result in very large avalanches.
Problems
Storm Slabs
10 to 40 cm of snow over the last 72 hrs arrived with moderate to strong SW winds. Fresh, soft slabs have been reported as being reactive over the Dec 31 layer of surface hoar and sun crust. Variable winds may redistribute snow in some unusual locations over the next few days.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
The base of the snowpack consists of weak facets and depth hoar. There has not been any avalanche activity on this layer for a while but the consequences of triggering it remain serious. Use caution in steep terrain or on planar slopes where failures in these basal facets are more likely to propagate.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 12th, 2024 4:00PM
