Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 24th, 2025 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs, Persistent Slabs and Cornices.
Avalanche Canada,
Avalanche Canada
Very large avalanches remain possible due to a deeply buried weak layer.
Strong wind continues to build slabs.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Tuesday, there were two very large (size 3) avalanches triggered by cornices falling on a slope and triggering a weak layer, suspected to be the early December crust.
On January 15th, a very large persistent slab avalanche was remotely triggered (MIN report).
Snowpack Summary
Exposed terrain has been heavily wind-affected. In sheltered areas, there is 20 to 30 cm of settling soft snow.
A weak layer of facets and a crust from early December is buried 80 to 140 cm deep. This layer exists on all aspects up to around 1700 m and produced large avalanches last weekend.
Check out this recent ACMG Mountain Conditions Report for more on the persistent weak layer problem.
Weather Summary
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Saturday
Cloudy. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Sunday
Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Monday
Cloudy with 5 to 20 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
- 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.
- Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Strong wind will continue to build slabs in lee terrain.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
The early December weak layer continues to be triggerable in shallow, thin to thick areas. Remote triggering and wide propagations should be at the forefront of your mind.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
A cornice falling may trigger a deeply buried weak layer.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 25th, 2025 4:00PM
