Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 4th, 2023 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Avalanche Canada trettie, Avalanche Canada

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Keep an eye on conditions that change with elevation and time. Rider triggerable wind slabs could be found in higher elevation terrain. As the snow surface gets moist small wet loose avalanches could be triggered as well.

Summary

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported in the past couple days.

Please continue to post your observations and photos to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

10cm of dry new snow sits over 45cm of moist previous storm snow. Below this is a thick crust from late December. At lower elevations around 10cm sits over a more recent crust.

The snow surface will likely become moist as the freezing level rises.

Treeline snow depths are roughly 150 to 200 cm.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Flurries bringing 5cm of new snow at higher elevations. Moderate to strong southeast winds and freezing levels around 1600m.

Thursday

Cloudy with a few centimeters of new snow expected at higher elevations during the day. Stormy weather starting late afternoon/evening with 30mm of precipitation before midnight. Moderate to strong southeast winds and freezing levels rising to 1900m.

Friday

Stormy with 10 to 20cmof new snow at higher elevations. Moderate to strong southeast winds. Freezing level around 1300m.

Saturday

Stormy with up to 15cm of new snow at higher elevations. Strong southeast winds and freezing level around 1400m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

New snow and southerly winds could form small wind slabs on west, north and east aspects. These wind slabs will likely be found in immediate lee features at treeline and above.

Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Jan 5th, 2023 4:00PM