Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 1st, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.
trettie,
Avalanche Canada
There is still uncertainty with the reactivity of a persistent slab. Back off if you encounter signs of instability like whumpfing.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity has been reported in the past few days.
Whumpfing has been experienced by backcountry users in the Babines, Grizzly Plateau, and Hudson Bay Mountain recently. The whumpfing is likely due to the surface hoar layers described in the snowpack summary.
Snowpack Summary
check out this great MIN describing conditions around Hudson Bay.
Light amounts of recent new snow have been redistributed by primarily southerly winds. Southerly faces in the alpine are scoured down to the ground or an early-season crust. In most areas, two or more preserved surface hoar layers can be found buried between 35 cm and 80 cm deep. They appear to be most prominent at treeline and below but have been observed in some alpine locations as well.Snowpack depths at treeline are variable across the region with generally deeper amounts (~150cm) in the western part and shallower (~80cm) in the eastern part.The snow surface is likely moist or crusty up to treeline. Below 1100 m there is very little snow.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy with trace amounts of new snow expected, southeast alpine wind 15 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -4°C.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with trace amounts of new snow expected, southeast alpine wind 15 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -6°C.
Wednesday
A mix of sun and cloud with trace amounts of new snow expected, southeast alpine wind 20 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -3°C.
Thursday
Mostly sunny with trace amounts of new snow possible, southwest alpine wind 20 to 60 km/h, freezing level rising to 900 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
- Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Several buried surface hoar layers can be found 35 to 80 cm below the snow surface. This is only seems to be a problem above 1200m.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Recent light snowfall amounts have slowly accumulated and been redistributed into open areas and in the lee of ridgelines by southerly winds.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 2nd, 2024 4:00PM
