Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 22nd, 2024 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada isnowsell, Avalanche Canada

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Continue to make conservative terrain choices as recent snow may still need time to bond to the faceted surfaces underneath.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous size 1 storm slab avalanches were skier-triggered over the weekend, on various aspects and elevations.

Explosive control work on Sunday produced two size 2 avalanches storm slab avalanches in steep, northwest-facing alpine terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Recent snow has been redistributed by primarily southwest winds in exposed alpine terrain. Below the new snow are old faceted surfaces formed during the extreme cold earlier in the month.

A weak layer of facets above a melt-freeze crust is found down 60 to 100 cm.

The mid and lower snowpack is generally well bonded with a series of crusts and faceted snow.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Cloudy with 0 to 3 cm of snow, southwest alpine winds 30 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -4 °C.

Tuesday

Cloudy with trace snow amounts, west alpine winds 30 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -4 °C.

Wednesday

Cloudy with trace snow amounts, southwest alpine winds 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -5 °C.

Thursday

Cloudy with trace snow amounts, southwest alpine winds 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

Recent snowfall has buried a layer of old firm, faceted surfaces that may not be bonding to the new snow above. Slabs may be particularly reactive in exposed treeline and alpine terrain where recent wind loading has occurred.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 23rd, 2024 4:00PM

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