Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 24th, 2014 7:59AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Deep Persistent Slabs.
jfloyer,
Avalanche Canada
As danger approaches low across the board, it's a good time to remind ourselves that low danger doesn't mean no danger. Food for thought on this blog post.
Summary
Confidence
Good
Weather Forecast
A high pressure ridge will continue to bring dry, warm conditions.Saturday: An inversion will generate an above freezing layer from around 1800 to 3200m. Expect cloud to around 1800 m as well as some strong alpine sunshine. Alpine temperatures will reach around +3C and will feel higher still in the sunshine. Ridgetop winds 20-30 km/h from the NW.Sunday and Monday: Dry, with a mix of sun and cloud, becoming clear by Monday afternoon. Air temperature cooling significantly (expected max of -2C on Sunday and -6C on Monday). Winds light northerly.
Avalanche Summary
Minor sluffing and ski cutting up to size 1 was observed in the new snow on Thursday.
Snowpack Summary
The recent dry, warm weather has generally consolidated the upper snowpack. Old, stubborn hard wind slabs may exist under a skiff of new snow. Steep, sun exposed features are most likely seeing a daily melt-freeze cycle.The biggest concern throughout the region is a layer of weak sugary depth hoar at the base of the snowpack which may coexist with a crust which formed in October. I would continue to be suspicious of any large or unsupported upper elevation slopes, especially if they haven't already avalanched. Possible triggers include a heavy load over a thin spot, a cornice fall or rapid temperature change. Any avalanche failing at this interface would be highly destructive.
Problems
Deep Persistent Slabs
The chance of triggering a deep persistent slab is greatly reduced. However if you were to trigger such an avalanche, the consequences would be great. The most suspect slopes are thin or variable alpine start zones with steep convex sections.
Conditions have improved, but be mindful that deep instabilities are still present.>Caution around convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.>
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 25th, 2014 2:00PM
