Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 29th, 2020 8:00AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
andrew jones,
Parks Canada
Avalanche hazard will increase later in the day with incoming precipitation and gusting winds.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Light snow is expected today with up to 7cm of accumulation. Freezing levels rise to 1300m with an alpine high of -5.0. Ridge winds SW-25km/h with gusts to 50km/h.
A subtropical storm laden with moisture arrives Thursday night. Expect 44cm of new snow Friday and 19cm Saturday with strong SW winds. Freezing levels rise to 1600m.
Snowpack Summary
Periods of moderate to strong southerly winds have created pockets of windslab on lee features, especially on northerly aspects. The mild temps are promoting settlement in the upper snowpack.
Avalanche Summary
2 natural size 2.5 avalanches were observed from steep north facing terrain in the highway corridor. A field team was able to ski cut a small size 1 avalanche in steep alpine terrain on the SE couloir of Mt Afton.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
Light snowfall combined with periods of moderate to strong wind have loaded lee slopes. Pockets of wind slab exist in the alpine/upper tree-line. On Sat, 2 skiers were seriously injured in an avalanche they triggered in the Forever Young couloir.
- Watch for stiffer feeling snow. Avoid areas that appear wind loaded.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 30th, 2020 8:00AM
