Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 12th, 2021 8:00AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Storm Slabs.
Jonas Hoke,
The avalanche hazard will increase steadily this afternoon, and peak overnight tonight with the passage of the cold front, scale back your exposure accordingly.
Summary
Weather Forecast
A warm front today and then a cold front tonight. This will be followed by high pressure through Thursday.
Today: Light snow (8cm). Alpine High -3 C. Ridge wind light S. Freezing level (Fzl) 1300m.
Tonight: Snow (24cm). Low -5 C. Extreme SW wind.
Weds: Clearing. High -6 C. Strong West wind. Fzl 1000m.
Thurs: Sunny periods. Low -14 C, High -6 C.
Snowpack Summary
5-10cm of new snow is covering a thin crust from sun and/or rime in exposed terrain, as well as surface hoar up to 10mm in the sheltered areas at treeline and below. The Dec 26 surface hoar has been hard to locate down 70cm. The Dec 7th surface hoar/suncrust/facet layer is down 1.5m. Crusts (with some facetting) persist at the base of the snowpack.
Avalanche Summary
A few large (size 2.5) natural avalanches where observed from the steep gullies on the North face of Mt MacDonald on Monday, these were likely triggered by a spike in wind and snowfall midday.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
Windslabs exist in isolated lee features. These will increase in size quickly with the incoming storm.
- Watch for surface cracking and stiffer surface layers of snow.
- Use caution in lee areas. Southwest wind is creating wind slabs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Storm Slabs
Snowfall, wind and warm temps will build storm slabs today and tonight. These will not likely bond well to the underlying surface hoar and/or sun/rain crust.
- Use safe ski cutting techniques to enter your line.
- Minimize overhead exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 13th, 2021 8:00AM
