Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 5th, 2023 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Wet.

Avalanche Canada trettie, Avalanche Canada

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Keep an eye on conditions that change with elevation. Wind slab could be encountered at higher elevations. Elevated freezing levels mean that wet loose avalanches are still possible.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported in the past couple days.

Please continue to post your observations and photos to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Ongoing southerly winds have scoured south facing terrain and created wind slab on west, north and east facing terrain features. A new layer of surface hoar exists on or near the surface in sheltered terrain. around 50 to 70cm overlies a rain crust formed in late December. moist snow will likely be observed at lower elevations as the freezing level rises.

The mid-snowpack is well-settled. The lower snowpack consists of several crusts with weak faceted crystals above and below that are beginning to heal and bond to each other.

Snowpack depths are roughly 140 to 180 cm at treeline.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Strong to extreme southerly winds and freezing levels around 1400m.

Friday

Cloudy with flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Moderate southerly winds. Freezing level around 1500m.

Saturday

Cloudy with light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Moderate to strong southerly winds and freezing levels rising to 1600m.

Sunday

Cloudy with flurries bringing a few centimeters of new snow. Strong southerly winds and freezing levels around 1600m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Ongoing southerly winds have formed wind slab on west, north and east aspects. These wind slabs could still be rider triggerable.

Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

Rider triggerable wet loose avalanches are possible at lower elevations.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 6th, 2023 4:00PM

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