Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 23rd, 2021 7:43AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
Andrew Jones,
Generally safe avalanche conditions, but watch out for unstable snow on isolated terrain features like steep solar aspects and near cornices.
Please leave plenty of time to get back to the trailhead safely.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Clear skies, cool temperatures, and light westerly winds are forecasted for today. Alpine temperatures will reach -12c, and will fall back to near -14c overnight. The stationary ridge that brought sunny skies will be breaking down tonight, making way for light flurries. Temperatures will remain cold into next week.
Snowpack Summary
Strong to extreme southerly winds created widespread wind effect in the Alpine and at Tree Line. The wind created scouring as well as localized hard slabs and cornice growth. Recently formed cornices may be fragile. Steep solar slopes are now topped with a thin sun crust. In sheltered locations one can find low-density storm snow on the surface.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were observed in the highway corridor. A group reported a natural cornice failure on the N aspect of Glacier Crest that did not initiate a slab on the slope below.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
On Tuesday winds reached over 140km/h at Macdonald West Shoulder! This left behind wind scoured surfaces and hard wind slabs in isolated terrain features and new cornice growth. Expect variability while moving between aspects and elevations.
- Avoid terrain traps, such as gullies, where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 24th, 2021 8:00AM
