Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 6th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
wlewis,
Avalanche Canada
Watch for new wind slabs as southerly winds continue and be wary of rocky start zones where the snowpack varies from thick to to thin. Weak layers are more easily triggered here.
Check out the new Forecasters' Blog for more details on managing our challenging snowpack.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanche activity has been reported in the region. However, there have been several recent reports of large human-triggered avalanches in neighboring regions with a similar snowpack structure.
Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
30 to 50 cm of soft snow overlies a generally weak, facetted snowpack with multiple buried weak layers. Fresh wind slabs are expected to form in higher elevation terrain from southerly winds, which may sit over a layer of reactive surface hoar and/or crust.
A layer of large and weak facets sits in the bottom of the snowpack, buried in November.
Snowpack depth is roughly 150 cm at treeline. This year's snowpack is weaker than usual, as described in our Forecasters' blog.
Weather Summary
Friday Night
Cloudy with flurries and moderate southerly winds. Freezing levels around 500 m.
Saturday
Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 2 to 5 cm. Moderate southerly wind. Treeline high of -4 °C.
Sunday
Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 2 to 5 cm. Moderate southerly wind. Treeline high of -4 °C.
Monday
Cloudy with flurries. Moderate to strong southerly wind. Treeline high of -4 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Expect southerly winds to form new wind slabs in lee terrain features, on north, west and east facing slopes. Avalanches triggered in wind-loaded terrain have the potential to step down to deeper weak layers, creating larger than expected avalanches.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
A weak layer of faceted grains sits near the base of the snowpack. The consequence of triggering this layer is high. Riders are most likely to trigger it where the snowpack is relatively shallow, such as on rocky and wind-affected slopes.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 7th, 2023 4:00PM
