Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 23rd, 2024 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada trettie, Avalanche Canada

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Assess for wind slabs prior to committing to high-consequence terrain. Wind slabs may remain rider triggerable where they have formed over facets.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Riders triggered small wind slabs on the weekend. They occurred in the immediate lee side of ridges at treeline and alpine elevations.

Looking forward, riders may continue to trigger similar avalanches as these slabs may take longer than typical to bond to the snowpack.

Snowpack Summary

Approximately 10 to 20 cm of recent snow has been redistributed by variable wind directions. This snow sits over old wind-affected surfaces and weak faceted grains and may take longer than usual to bond to the snowpack. Soft, settled snow may be found in areas sheltered from the wind.

In the lower snowpack, two surface hoar layers exist and have become unlikely to trigger. The potential remains for small avalanches on the surface to step down to these deeper layers.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Mostly cloudy with 2 cm of new snow expected, southwest alpine wind 15 to 35 km/h, treeline temperature -3°C, potential for temperature inversion with colder temperatures below treeline.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 2 cm of new snow expected, south alpine wind 20 to 35 km/h, treeline temperature -5°C.

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud with trace amounts of new snow expected, southwest alpine wind 15 to 25 km/h, treeline temperature -2°C, temperature inversion with colder temperatures below treeline.

Friday

Cloudy with trace amounts of new snow expected, southeast alpine wind 25 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -5°C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
  • Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind exposed terrain.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Riders may continue to trigger wind slabs near ridge crests on all aspects. Use caution and assess for slabs prior to committing yourself.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Jan 24th, 2024 4:00PM

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