Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 18th, 2020 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs, Deep Persistent Slabs and Loose Wet.
JMackenzie,
Avalanche Canada
A big change in the weather is coming - warm temperatures! This may mean that slabs become more sensitive to triggering, and certain terrain (such as steep solar aspects and cornices) should be avoided.
Summary
Confidence
No Rating -
Weather Forecast
The cold snap should finally end on Sunday! Mostly sunny skies and temps between -5 and -10 at upper elevations. Winds will be strong from the SW and no precipitation is expected.
Avalanche Summary
One slab avalanche was noted today on a steep Alpine feature on a NW aspect. This slide was full depth and fairly narrow, but ran approximately 250m. It occurred sometime in the past 24 hours.
Snowpack Summary
Wind slabs are present at Treeline and above on N, E and S aspects, while W aspects are scoured down to rock. Ski cutting produced some cracking today on wind loaded slopes immediately below ridge-crest, which indicates that human triggering is possible in the right terrain. Despite a week of very cold temperatures the mid-pack is holding onto it's strength, except in shallow snowpack areas. The basal facets and depth hoar are as bad as ever and are here to stay for the foreseeable future.
Terrain and Travel
- Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet
- Avoid convexities, steep unsupported terrain and rocky outcroppings.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Surface wind slabs and buried wind slabs are present at Treeline and above. Snowpack tests today indicate that these slabs are sensitive to human triggering. The warming trend on Sunday may make these slabs more sensitive.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
The basal weaknesses are still very scary. Forecasters continue to treat big terrain that has not yet slid this season with a large amount of caution.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
The big weather change arriving on Sunday may lead to some steep solar aspects becoming problematic, especially after mid-day. Be aware of the terrain around you.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 19th, 2020 4:00PM
