Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 9th, 2015 8:11AM

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

andrew jones, Parks Canada

Glacier.

The stability of recent storm snow will vary across elevation and aspect. Be careful to note changes as you travel. The Dec 17 surface hoar layer continues to produce skier triggered avalanches at treeline

Summary

Weather Forecast

Mainly cloudy today with no sign of precipitation. Winds at ridge top will remain light with an alpine high of -1. A weak disturbance is expected to bring trace amounts of snow on Saturday. A high pressure system will return for the early part of next week, bringing dry conditions for the foreseeable future.

Snowpack Summary

A thin sun crust is present on steep solar aspects. Recent storm snow continues to settle and bond to the old snow surface. The December 17th surface hoar on crust layer is down 80-100cm. This layer remains reactive to skier loads on unsupported features.

Avalanche Summary

Natural activity has begun to taper off since the storm, however isolated size 2 avalanches continue to be observed on steep terrain in the highway corridor. Yesterday a field team on Mt Abbott was able initiate a Sc size1.5 on a convex roll near treeline. The failure plane was the Dec 17 surface hoar, which had previously released and reloaded.

Confidence

Problems

Storm Slabs

This layer is still producing results in snow profile stability tests but sings show that it is continuing to bond with the old snow interface. Steeper windloaded features at treeline and above should be treated with respect.

Use caution above cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Persistent Slabs

The Dec 17 instability is still active. Yesterday a field team triggered a sz 1.5 on a convex roll at treeline that had previously released and since reloaded. This layer is widespread at treeline and should not be forgotten during decision making.

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Jan 10th, 2015 8:00AM