Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 12th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
JH,
Avalanche Canada
Overnight low temps in the -30s and short days (sunset is 16:10) greatly increase the risk associated with venturing in to the backcountry.
Be extra conservative when choosing an objective, and leave yourself lots of extra time to execute your exit plan.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
A natural size 2 slab avalanche was observed Friday, from the South facing slope between Grizzly and Little Sifton.
Thursday morning, there was a natural size 3 slab avalanche in the NE facing start zone of the Crossover avalanche path (Mt MacDonald). The debris ran full path, stopping in the creek at valley bottom.
There were several natural and human triggered avalanches early in the week, failing in the new snow - see MINs for Video Peak and Forever Young.
Snowpack Summary
Moderate winds (S/SW switching to N/NE) have redistributed 40-50cms of recent storm snow. This sits on: a sun crust on solar aspects; firm wind effect in the alpine; and soft facetted snow on sheltered N aspects.
Below 2100m there is a crust down 70-80cm (from Dec 5th/6th).
The Dec 1 surface hoar layer is down 90-120cm and is decomposing. However, it is still reactive in isolated snowpack tests.
Weather Summary
An extremely cold arctic ridge is in place over BC.
Tonight: clear, alpine low -32°C, light ridge winds.
Sat: Sunny, high -21°C, light SE winds.
Sun: Sunny, low -22°C, high -20°C, light NE winds.
Mon: Mix of sun and cloud, low -21°C, high -14°C.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
- Be carefull with sluffing in steep terrain, especially above cliffs and terrain traps.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Moderate Southerly winds came with the storm, and then switched to downflowing N/NE winds as the cold air moved in. Watch for windslabs in unusual places, and lower on the slope than what is typical. Windslabs may step down deeper on solar slopes with a buried crust.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 13th, 2024 4:00PM
