Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 2nd, 2020 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
marcus waring,
Parks Canada
Fresh windslabs will be easy to trigger as temperatures rise Friday and Saturday. This effect will be greatly enhanced by solar radiation if cloud cover is less then forecast.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Friday: A mix of sun and cloud with freezing levels rising to 2000m. West Wind 40-60 gusting 80 km/h
Saturday: Mostly Cloudy with 2-8 mm of precipitation. Strong West winds. Freezing Level 1600m
Sunday: A mix of Sun and cloud with scattered flurries. Moderate - Strong West winds. Freezing Level dropping to valley bottom by sat evening.
Snowpack Summary
At cameron Lake, a 20-60cm Windslab had developed over the past week. The Middle of the snowpack is well settled but a weak facet/ melt freeze crust still lurks near the base of the snowpack.
The Front ranges have a deteriorating melt freeze crust up to 1800m on top of a faceted lower snowpack. Shallow snowpack areas require extra caution.
Avalanche Summary
No new observations
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Saturday
Problems
Wind Slabs
Warm temperatures Friday and Saturday will make Windslabs easier to trigger. BTL rating on Saturday reflects potential for avalanches to run full path.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created fresh slabs.
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
The November facet/ melt freeze crust combo still lurks near the base of the snowpack. This layer could still be triggered by people in thinner snowpack areas, or by large triggers including cornices or smaller avalanches.
- Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.
- Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 5th, 2020 4:00PM
