Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 6th, 2017 4:53PM

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

Avalanche Canada shorton, Avalanche Canada

Old wind slabs are lingering at upper elevations. Analyze each slope for signs of wind loading and likely trigger points as you travel.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Timing of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Sunday

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY: Mainly cloudy, light southeast wind, alpine temperatures around -5.SUNDAY: Flurries starting later in the day, moderate southeast winds, alpine temperatures around -3.MONDAY: Flurries with 5-15 cm of new snow, light west winds, alpine temperatures around -6.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported on Thursday. Several small wind slab avalanches were reported earlier in the week, and lingering wind slabs may still be reactive in isolated wind-loaded pockets.

Snowpack Summary

A trace of new snow covers a variable surface with a mix of soft wind slabs, hard wind slabs, sastrugi, faceted snow, and even some surface hoar. Wind slabs are the primary weakness of concern in the current snowpack. Last week's winds reverse loaded many terrain features and formed stubborn wind slabs on a surprising range of aspects. Snowpack tests on wind slabs are producing easy to moderate results, with occasional sudden planar results. The Boxing Day interface can be found up to 100 cm deep and consists of wind packed snow, faceted (sugary) snow, or surface hoar. Recent observations suggest the overlying snow is generally well bonded to this interface. Snowpack layers below this interface are also generally well bonded.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Strong northerly winds last week formed wind slabs behind exposed terrain features. Choose supported lines and be aware of the potential for hard slabs to fracture above you and propagate widely.
Use safe ski cutting techniques before entering steep lines.Be aware of the potential for hard slabs to fracture above you and propagate widely.Anticipate areas of hard wind slab in steep alpine features.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 7th, 2017 2:00PM