Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 22nd, 2024 1:30PM

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

Avalanche Canada Mikey, Avalanche Canada

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Approach all avalanche terrain with caution and expect human triggered avalanches. Now is the time to find low angled skiing.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new reported today. But WOW, the MIN reports were on fire this weekend. Thank you to everyone who posted about wet loose slides, avalanches, whumphing, cracking and settlements. This will likely continue for the next few days. https://avalanche.ca/map

Snowpack Summary

Warmer weather continues to settle the upper snowpack into denser snow. Expect to find reactive wind slabs and settled snow up to 30cm thick at treline and above; they will be thicker in lee features. These slabs are reacting on the faceted layer formed by the recent cold spell. The Dec 5th crust can be found in the lower third of the snowpack and could wake up with the warmer temps and produce larger avalanches, especially triggered from thinner areas. Now is a good time to step back and let nature take care of the snowpack with the warmer weather coming in this week.

Weather Summary

Tuesday: Chinook like conditions. Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Temperature in the alpine will reach a high of -6c along with 35km/h ridge winds from the West. Freezing level is expected at 1600-1800m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Recent strong winds have formed windslabs in alpine and treeline areas.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs

This layer is getting getting buried deeper and deeper over time. The weight and amount of new snow is slowly increasing, which will increase the size of any potential avalanches.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Valid until: Jan 23rd, 2024 4:00PM