Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 23rd, 2021 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
dsaly,
Avalanche Canada
Avalanche hazard is improving, stick to good travel habits. Be wary of lurking wind slabs and large cornices.
Summary
Confidence
Weather Forecast
Saturday night: Increasing cloud / light to moderate southwest winds / alpine low temperature -18
Sunday: Cloudy, isolated flurries / light south-southeast winds / alpine high temperature -12
Monday: Cloudy, isolated flurries / light south winds / alpine high temperature -12
Tuesday: Cloudy, with sunny breaks and isolated flurries / light and increasing south winds / alpine high temperature -10
Avalanche Summary
There have been no recent notable avalanche reports in the region.
Last weekend, professional operators reported a small (size 1) avalanche releasing 40 cm deep on the Jan 11th surface hoar layer. Observers south of Valemount also reported reactivity on the surface hoar buried down 45 cm. They saw shooting cracks and slab activity at 1700m on an easterly aspect. A large glide slab avalanche was also reported likely failing late last weekend (MIN here).
Snowpack Summary
Previous winds scoured snow surfaces, loaded cornices, and formed stiff wind slabs in the alpine and around treeline. A thin sun crust may be found on steep solar aspects. Clear skies and cold temperatures are encouraging surface hoar growth and surface faceting. Below 1600 m, 20-30 cm of snow is settling above a decomposing melt freeze crust.
A weak of layer of surface hoar can be found buried 35-60 cm deep. This layer demonstrated reactivity over the weekend from observers in the south of the region near Valemount. It is most suspect in sheltered, open slopes at and below treeline. Although results from recent snowpack tests show increasingly resistant results (check out this MIN from near Barkerville), slope-specific assessment is warranted.
Deeper in the snowpack, a couple of older persistent weak layers may still be identifiable from late and early December, consisting of surface hoar and a crust with faceted snow and buried anywhere from 70-150 cm deep. Prolonged periods of inactivity and unreactive snowpack test results suggest that these layers have trended towards dormancy.
Terrain and Travel
- Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
- Large cornice falls are dangerous on their own.
- Approach steep open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, buried surface hoar may exist.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs are stubborn, but if triggered will be heavy and dense. Use caution around cornices.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
A weak layer of surface hoar buried Jan 11 may be found 40-60 cm deep on open, sheltered slopes near and below treeline. There is uncertainty in the distribution and sensitivity of this persistent slab problem across the region.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 24th, 2021 4:00PM
