Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 5th, 2021 8:15AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs, Persistent Slabs and Loose Dry.
Chris Gooliaff,
A reactive storm slab at and below treeline was triggered by multiple parties yesterday in Puff Daddy, Napoleon Spur, and McGill.
Choose conservative, well-supported runs today and avoid getting pushed into a terrain trap.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Cloudy with flurries the next couple of days, then a high pressure ridge will clear things out by Thursday
Today: cloudy with sunny periods, trace snowfall, Alpine high -8*C, light/mod SW winds
Tonight: increasing cloud, 4cm, alpine high -8*C, mod S winds
Wed: flurries, 5-10cm, alpine high -7*C, gusty mod SW winds
Thurs: cloud with sun, light winds
Snowpack Summary
75cm of snowfall over the last 3 days was accompanied by strong to extreme winds from the SW. A surface hoar layer, buried Dec 26, is preserved in sheltered areas at and below treeline, down 70+cm. The Dec 13 surface hoar can still be found down 120cm and the Dec 7 crust/facet/surface hoar (aspect/elevation dependent) layer is down 135+cm.
Avalanche Summary
Overnight natural activity saw several sz 3's off Mt's Tupper and Macdonald.
Multiple MIN reports indicated people were able to trigger soft slabs, 30-70cm deep, at and below treeline to sz 2 yesterday.
Large avalanches to sz 4 were triggered by artillery control Saturday night, which ran to valley bottom and buried the highway.
Confidence
Problems
Storm Slabs
Heavy snowfall over the weekend, accompanied by strong-extreme SW wind, has built thick storm slabs in all open terrain.
A Dec 26 surface hoar layer persists below this slab, 50-70cm deep, in sheltered areas at treeline and below.
- Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.
- The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Avalanche activity this weekend shows that large triggers (such as cornices and storm slabs) could still cause very large avalanches on these layers.
- Be wary of large slopes that did not previously avalanche.
- If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
Plenty of loose snow exists in sheltered locations at and below treeline. Skier triggered sluffs have the potential to collect significant mass and bury a person in a terrain trap. Sluff management is essential today.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 6th, 2021 8:00AM
