Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 4th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Loose Wet.
dsaly,
Avalanche Canada
With a forecast of fresh snow falling with strong winds, expect to find an increasingly reactive snowpack and avalanche hazard highest at the end of the day.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported.
If you head into the backcountry by any method of travel, please consider submitting observations and/or photos on the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
20-40 cm of new snow is expected to accumulate by the end of Friday.
Below new snow, expect the upper snowpack to be dry snow in the alpine and at treeline, and a mix of moist snow and frozen crusts below treeline. The new snow is burying a mix of wet, frozen, or settling snow from recent freezing level fluctuations.
In the warmest, wettest parts of this forecast area and lower elevation ridgetops and peaks, the snowpack has been mostly melted by recent rain. Other than shaded gullies that may hold snow, much of the terrain is below threshold for avalanches.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Cloudy. Up to 10 cm of snow by Friday morning above 1000 m. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -3 °C.
Friday
Snowing. 20-40 cm of snow accumulating in the mountains by 4 pm. Strong southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -2 °C.
SaturdayCloudy. Up to 80 mm of precipitation in 48 hrs (falling as snow and ending early morning). Moderate west ridgetop wind. Treeline low around -6 °C.
SundayMix of sun and clouds. no precipitation. Light west ridgetop wind. Treeline low around -6 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.
- Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.
- The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Upwards of 40 cm of fresh snow is forecast to accumulate throughout Friday, falling with strong winds. Expect slabs to become more reactive by the end of the day. At lower elevations, the snowpack may be below the threshold for avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Be cautious at lower elevations where rain or wet snow falls on old snow instead of bare ground. This may not end up being much of a problem if the freezing level is as low as forecasted.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 5th, 2024 4:00PM
