Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 9th, 2019 8:22AM

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

ross campbell, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Cornices should be given a wide berth as per our usual safe traveling habits. Be wary of wind slabs near ridge lines and shallow snowpack areas.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A weak Pacific storm is tracking across BC, dropping another 5-10cm today at Rogers Pass; Freeing Levels will rise to 1300m and the winds will be moderate with strong gusts from the SW. We should get another 10cm tonight, and another 5cm on Thursday. Freezing levels will stay high for the next few days.

Snowpack Summary

Another 10cm of new snow buries previous low-density storm snow in sheltered locations at TL and wind slabs in isolated areas in the Alpine. The January 2nd interface/thin freezing rain crust is buried approx 90cm beneath the surface. The Nov 21st interface is now buried 1m+ in shallow areas and over 2m in deeper spots.

Avalanche Summary

A skier accidental size 3.5 was triggered on the up track to Camp West yesterday afternoon, see the MIN report here. The crown was 40cm deep where triggered and grew to over 1m in the deeper spots. Width of the crown is well over 100m and ran for over a kilometer!

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Continued moderate winds formed winds slabs in the alpine and exposed ares at tree line. Winds were out of the NE, reverse loading ridge tops where you may not expect to find regular wind slabs.

Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

The November 21st interface may be the culprit for the skier accidental size 3.5 yesterday in Camp West. This problem woke up with the recent rapid loading from extreme winds, and significant new snow in January.

Caution on steep solar aspects where the snowpack is thin and or cross loaded.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2.5 - 3.5

Valid until: Jan 10th, 2019 8:00AM