Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 7th, 2019 4:17PM

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

Avalanche Canada pgoddard, Avalanche Canada

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Recent winds have left behind wind slabs and built cornices. Keep track of where you are in the terrain to avoid these areas.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY: Around 10 cm snow beginning late morning. Freezing level near valley bottom. Moderate to strong southerly winds, with the chance of strong outflow winds at low elevations. Alpine high -5. Expect a further 10 cm snow overnight.WEDNESDAY: 10-15 cm snow. Freezing level near 1200 m. Moderate south-easterly winds. Alpine high near -3. Expect a further 20 cm snow overnight. THURSDAY: 10-15 cm snow. Freezing level near 1400 m. Moderate southerly winds. Alpine high near -2. More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous size 1-2 storm slabs and cornice falls were triggered by explosives control on Monday. Human triggering of avalanches slowed down. While the recent storm slab problem is improving, incoming weather is expected to create new avalanche problems by Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 140 cm recent storm snow was shifted into slabs on slopes lee to the south-east to south-west. In general, the recent storm snow is slowly gaining strength and settling. New storm slabs are expected to build by Tuesday afternoon. At treeline and below, the storm snow sits on two weak layers that are down 80-100 cm and 150-200 cm. These layers consist of surface hoar (feathery crystals) in more sheltered areas and a crust on solar aspects and on all aspects below 1500m.In the lower snowpack, a weak layer of facets (sugary snow) is now over 200 cm deep. There have been no reports of avalanches on this layer for over a week, but it may still be reactive to heavy loads (such as a cornice fall) in isolated areas.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Recent winds have left behind wind slabs on lee slopes at all elevations.
Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.Use ridges or ribs to avoid wind loaded slopes.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Cornices

An icon showing Cornices
Cornices can fail naturally or with the weight of a person. They make good triggers for avalanches on slopes below.
Be aware of the potential for cornice failures to trigger slab avalanches.Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.

Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 8th, 2019 2:00PM

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