Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 24th, 2017 3:37PM

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

Avalanche Canada cgarritty, Avalanche Canada

Stability is improving steadily but wind slabs remain a concern. Avoid testing their strength on steep or unsupported slopes.

Summary

Confidence

High - The weather pattern is stable

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: Mainly cloudy and no new snow. Winds light from the northwest. Freezing levels to 600 metres with alpine temperatures at -3. Thursday: Mainly cloudy. Winds light from the west. Freezing level to 800 metres with alpine temperatures to -2. Friday: Cloudy with sunny periods. Winds light to moderate from the southwest. Freezing level rising to 1800 metres with alpine temperatures to +3.

Avalanche Summary

Aside from recent Size 1 ski cut results down 7-15 cm in our new snow, no new avalanches have been reported. With that said, it is recommended to monitor the depth and reactivity of new snow as you travel, keeping in mind the potential for terrain traps to amplify the consequences of small avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

10-15 cm of new snow fell over the region over Sunday evening. Density change interfaces within and beneath this new snow proved touchy over Monday, producing Size 1 avalanches with ski cuts and skier traffic. While these new snow instabilities are likely to heal quickly, they will remain our primary avalanche hazard over the short term. The problem will be less pronounced on solar aspects and lower elevations where warm temperatures created moist surface snow which has since refrozen. Including our new snow, storm snow since Thursday now amounts to 30-40 cm at treeline elevations and above. This storm snow sits above the rain-soaked snow from last week's warmup and it is settling and bonding well to this surface. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Recent snowfall has been redistributed into wind slabs at higher elevations. Treat the new snow with caution and don't let a poor terrain choice amplify the consequences of a small wind slab release.
Use caution around ledges and cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 25th, 2017 2:00PM