Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 14th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs.
lbaker,
Avalanche Canada
Give new snow time to settle and stabilize before pushing into big terrain.
As you transition into wind-affected areas watch for deep, stiff pockets of storm slabs in lees that are more likely to be reactive to human triggering.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Friday, explosives control resulted in numerous storm slab avalanches to size 2. Numerous natural storm slabs including a natural cornice-triggered storm slab to size 2 were also reported.
On Thursday, a skier accidental, size 1, storm slab avalanche was observed on Disease Ridge. Storm slab avalanches were reactive to explosives and human triggering up to size 1.5.
On Tuesday, a large storm slab avalanche was triggered by a skier on Metal Dome on an open east-facing slope at treeline. Another skier-accidental avalanche was reported to have failed within the storm snow near Oboe on a northwest slope.
Thanks for the observations and please continue to post your reports and photos to the Mountain Information Network. It is really helpful for forecasters!
Snowpack Summary
Above 1700 m +50 cm of storm snow and southerly winds have built deep storm slabs in lees. New snow overlies previous wind-affected surfaces in alpine and open treeline terrain. Below 1700 m the snowpack was saturated with rain and is refreezing.
A thick widespread crust formed in late December is down 60 to 120 cm. In the alpine, it is thin and breakable.
Near the base of the snowpack, a weak facet/crust layer from mid-November can be found and remains a concern for triggering with large loads or on thin spots. In general, the snowpack is shallow.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Cloudy with clear periods. Southeast winds of 30 km/h. Ridgetop low-temperature -3C. Freezing levels fall to 1000 m.
Sunday
Mainly cloudy isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Light variable winds gusting 20 km/h. Ridgetop high-temperature -2C. Freezing levels 1200 m.
The next storm pushes into the Sea to Sky late Sunday night. Scattered flurries, 5 mm. Winds remain light. Freezing levels 1000 m.
Monday
Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries tapering off in the afternoon, 5-10 mm. Light variable winds gusting 20 km/h. Ridgetop high-temperature -3C. Freezing levels 1000 m.
Tuesday
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, 15-30 mm. Southwesterly winds increase from moderate to strong through the day, gusting 60 km/h. Ridgetop high-temperature -4C. Freezing levels 800 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
- Caution around convexities or sharp changes in terrain.
Problems
Storm Slabs
+50 cm of storm snow and southerly winds have built thick storm slabs in lees at higher elevations. Watch for wind-affected areas where deep pockets of storm snow feel stiff and may be more reactive to human triggering.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 15th, 2023 4:00PM
