Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 24th, 2020 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
cgarritty,
Avalanche Canada
Fresh wind slabs in exposed areas will be the primary concern for Saturday, so seek out sheltered low density snow. Ease into steeper terrain cautiously and be prepared to step back if you find signs of instability.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate -
Weather Forecast
Friday night: Cloudy with easing flurries and a trace to 5 cm of new snow. Light to moderate southwest winds.
Saturday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow. Light to moderate south winds. Alpine high temperatures around -4 with freezing levels to 1400 metres.
Sunday: Clear periods in the morning, becoming cloudy with flurries beginning in the evening. Light to moderate southeast winds, becoming strong at ridgetop. Alpine high temperatures around -4.
Monday: Cloudy with scattered flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow. Light to moderate south winds. Alpine high temperatures around -5.
Avalanche Summary
Early reports from Friday in the south of the region describe ski cutting easily triggering small (size 1) storm slabs to the depth of our recent storm snow, 20-30 cm deep. These were noted on north aspects below treeline.
Looking forward, our recent snow should begin to form a more reliable bond with the old surface while areas of unstable snow become increasingly focused toward wind loaded pockets at higher elevations.
Snowpack Summary
Regular snowfall over the past week brought 20-40 cm of snow to the region. Moderate to strong, mainly south winds over the same period have redistributed much of this snow in the alpine and upper treeline while warm temperatures have promoted slab formation with each snowfall as well as fairly quick transitions to settlement and bonding of the new snow. Surface snow is now moist or wet from warm temperatures, rain or wet flurries up to at least 1500 metres.
There is a layer of surface hoar still being tracked by professionals in the region now buried 60 to 120 cm deep. This layer exists primarily at treeline and below. It has been on a positive strengthening trend, though test results indicate that there is still the potential to trigger it in isolated areas. Check out this MIN report from a few days ago outlining some recent test results on this layer.
Terrain and Travel
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect and exposure to wind.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Warm temperatures have likely helped our recent storm snow settle and bond to the surface, however thicker, more reactive wind slabs are likely to be found at higher elevations. Keep your guard up around steep slopes below treeline where a stubborn storm slab may still react to a human trigger.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 25th, 2020 5:00PM
