Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 27th, 2020 8:00AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
chris gooliaff,
Parks Canada
Pockets of wind slab are catching skiers off-guard in the alpine. Specific terrain features (ie steep, wind-loaded slopes) are failing under a person's load.
Summary
Weather Forecast
A series of lows will bring a string of weak storms over the next few days.
Today: Cloudy, isolated flurries, trace precip, alpine high -6*C, fzl rising to 1400m, mod SW winds
Tues: Cloudy, scattered flurries, 5cm snow, alpine high -6*C, fzl rising to 1400m, mod SW winds
Wed: Flurries, 5-10cm snow, alpine high -6*C, fzl 1200m, mod/strong SW winds
Snowpack Summary
~10cm of overnight snow has covered up yesterday's suncrust on solar aspects. Storm slabs from the ~60cm snow over the past week seem to be settling and bonding, but periods of moderate to strong southerly winds have created pockets of windslab on lee features, especially on northerly aspects.
Avalanche Summary
Saturday, skiers in the Forever Young couloir triggered a size 2 avalanche which resulted in partial burials and serious injuries. Skiers also triggered avalanches on NRC, Video Peak and Grizzly Couloir. this past week.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
Incremental snowfall, combined with periods of moderate to strong wind, have loaded lee slopes. Pockets of reactive wind slab exist. On Saturday, 2 skiers were seriously injured in an avalanche they triggered in the Forever Young couloir.
- Watch for stiffer feeling snow. Avoid areas that appear wind loaded.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 28th, 2020 8:00AM
