Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 30th, 2017 5:08PM

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

Avalanche Canada mbender, Avalanche Canada

There is uncertainty with snowfall amounts on Tuesday. If snow does fall, it should not be enough to raise danger ratings.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, wind light east, alpine temperature -11WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, wind light east, alpine temperatures -14THURSDAY: Sunny, wind light east, alpine temperature -14 More details can be found on the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Avalanche Summary

Recent avalanche activity in the region has been reported as thin natural and skier triggered wind slabs to size 1.5 on northerly aspects in the alpine and at tree line.

Snowpack Summary

A recent dusting of light snow has been redistributed by moderate to strong winds and covers previous wind affected surfaces in exposed areas. Buried crusts can be found near the surface on solar aspects at high elevations and on all aspects below 1600m. The lower snowpack appears to be well settled. There have been isolated reports of a surface hoar layer buried in early January about 40 cm deep in sheltered areas. Last week the height of snow in the First Peak area was reported at 140 cm at an elevation of 1950 metres. The top 50 cm of the snowpack was a stiff pencil hardness above a softer layer of December facets. The November crust in this location was 15 cm thick at the base of the snowpack and breaking down into weak faceted crystals.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Strong westerly winds will continue redistributing our remaining surface snow into thin fresh slabs.
Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 31st, 2017 2:00PM