Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 13th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
trettie,
Avalanche Canada
Avoid rocky or wind loaded features where the snowpack varies from thick to thin. This is where both wind slabs and buried weak layers can most likely be triggered.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
A couple of small avlanches were observed below treeline on small convex features. No other significant avalanches were reported on Thursday.
Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
Wind slabs will likely be found at treeline and above on west, north and east aspects. The Rising and falling freezing levels mean tough travel conditions below treeline.
A new layer of surface hoar can be found down 10 to 30cm in sheltered terrain features at treeline and above. At this same depth a crust exists on steep south facing slopes.
The two layers of greatest concern are a layer of facets, crust and surface hoar that was buried around Christmas and found around 40 to 60cm deep. Check out this MIN for some additional info, thanks to the poster for the info! The other is a layer of large, weak facets buried in November and found near the bottom of the snowpack. This layer is likely most problematic in alpine terrain, where shallower avalanches could scrub down to these basal facets. These layers may persist for a prolonged period of time, as described in our Forecasters' blog.
Snowpack depths are roughly 100 to 175 cm at treeline. In general the snowpack is weak and shallow.
Weather Summary
Friday Night
Cloudy with up to 5cm of new snow expected at treeline and above. Rain at lower elevations. Freezing levels between 1000m and 1300m. Light to moderate southerly winds.
Saturday
Cloudy with flurries bringing around 5cm of new snow. Light southwest winds. Freezing level falling throughout the day to 1000m in the north and around 1400m in the south.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy with the possibility of light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light southerly winds and a high of -3 at 1800m. Freezing level falling to valley bottom or near valley bottom.
Monday
Cloudy with flurries bringing a few centimeters of new snow. Light to moderate southwest winds and a high of -3 at 1800m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Rider triggerable wind slabs will likely still be found at higher elevations on west, north and east aspects.
Avoid thin rocky features near ridge tops. This is where wind slabs and deeper layers are most likely to be triggered.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
The mid and lower snowpack is generally weak, facetted and contains multiple buried weak layers. A layer of facets, surface hoar and/or crust buried 35 to 60 cm deep continues to produce test results that indicate it could be triggered by riders. Avalanches may be larger than you expect due to the depth of buried weak layers. In Shallow alpine areas it may be possible to trigger avalanches on the mid November facet layer, which is near the bottom of the snowpack.
The incoming weather will test the snowpack. Keep these layers in mind as you move through terrain. Choose terrain with low consequences.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 14th, 2023 4:00PM
