Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 17th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
swerner,
Avalanche Canada
The new snow may form reactive storm slabs, in areas where a slab is not found dry loose avalanches are likely.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Tuesday, dry loose sluffing from steep slopes and terrain features were seen across the region. Explosive control saw a few storm and wind slab avalanches up to size 1.5 from northeast east-facing terrain above 2300 m.
New storm slabs may be reactive on Thursday, especially in wind affected terrain. Dry loose power sluffing may be the name of the game in most places that are sheltered from the wind.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 25 cm+ of low-density storm snow has buried a variety of snow surfaces. It sits above unconsolidated faceted snow, surface hoar and firm wind-pressed snow in open terrain at treeline and above.
Down 60-80 cm, a crust, facet and or surface hoar layer exists. This may become a problem once the snow above starts to stiffen and form a slab.
130+ cm down another surface hoar layer exists that was buried in early December. This seems to be of most concern above 2000 m where a robust crust doesn't exist above it.
Weak basal facets are likely to be found on the ground in shallow snowpack areas.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Cloudy with some flurries, ridgetop wind 15-20 km/h from the east, treeline temperatures near -15 C.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud, ridgetop wind 10-15 km/h from the southeast and treeline temperatures near -10 C.
Friday
Mix of sun and cloud with light snowfall amounts, ridgetop wind 10-20 km/h from the southwest, treeline temperature -7 C.
Saturday
New snow 5-10 cm, ridgetop winds light from the southwest, treeline temperatures near -3 C. Freezing levels 1600 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Don't be too cavalier with decision making, storm slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering.
- Be aware of the potential for larger than expected storm slabs due to the presence of buried surface hoar.
- Be carefull with sluffing in steep terrain, especially above cliffs and terrain traps.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm slabs may be touchy, especially in wind effected terrain.
Dry loose power sluffing will likely exist in wind sheltered terrain, especially on steep slopes.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
50-80 cm sits above a crust and surface hoar which has produced natural, remote and rider-trigger avalanches in the past week. As the unconsolidated snow settles and forms a slab, a reactive upper snowpack may exist.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 18th, 2024 4:00PM
