Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 20th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
MM,
Avalanche Canada
Warming temps, new snow and wind are the perfect recipe for fresh slab formation.
Continue to re-evaluate conditions as you gain elevation and transition into open terrain.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
A few naturals were observed on Mt. Macdonald running from steep terrain on Saturday.
Thursday; there was a close call when a skier triggered a sz 1.5 avalanche on the S/SW side of Cheops and self arrested; and a skier triggered slab avalanche on a S facing moraine.
Wednesday there was a widespread natural cycle in the highway corridor, triggered by wind.
Tuesday, there was a skier triggered avalanche on the W Side of Cheops.
*All skier triggered avalanches failed on a suncrust
Snowpack Summary
30cms of recent storm snow overlies variable wind slabs/wind effect in open terrain, and settling facetted snow in sheltered areas below tree-line.
A sun crust, down 50cm (most prominent at tree-line) has been the failure plane for isolated & large skier triggered avalanches recently.
Below 2100m there is decomposing crust down 75cm (from Dec 5th/6th).
The Dec 1 surface hoar layer is down 110cm and is decomposing.
Weather Summary
Expect a temperature inversion and flurries into Monday as heavy cold air is slowly pushed out.
Tonight: Trace precip. Low -3°C. Light Southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level (Fzl) 1400m
Sun: Isolated flurries. High -3°C. Fzl 1800m. Light to Moderate SW wind.
Mon: Isolated flurries. High -2°C. Fzl 1800m. Light SW wind.
Tues: 5cm. Low -6°C, High -3°C. Light S wind. Fzl 1700m
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Fresh snow with variable wind continues to build fresh slabs.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Be extra cautious on South through West aspects, as there is a sun-crust down 40-70cm that has been reactive to skier/rider traffic.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 21st, 2024 4:00PM
