Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 20th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
kbakker,
Avalanche Canada
Heavy snow and rain have impacted the snowpack. Raise your guard anywhere the storm snow remains dry, it is likely bonding poorly to the underlying surface.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Friday, there were reports of skier triggered small wind slab avalanches running on the crust below. On Thursday, our Field Team skier triggered several wind slabs (size 1-2) from alpine and treeline terrain near Mount Cokely. Read more in this MIN.
We suspect a widespread natural avalanche cycle occurred on Friday with heavy loading from snow, rain and wind.
Snowpack Summary
Rain has impacted the snowpack in most areas, leaving the surface wet and sloppy. Dry snow may prevail in the alpine, and will have been redistributed by strong southerly winds.
A weak facet/crust layer can be found down 50 to 100 cm. The remainder of the snowpack is strong, with numerous hard melt-freeze crusts.
Treeline snow depth ranges from 100 to 180 cm. Snow depth diminishes rapidly at low elevations where there has been more rainfall.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Cloudy with light rain. Alpine wind southeast 20 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperature falling to 0 °C.
Sunday
Cloudy with mixed precipitation, 5 to 15 cm of new snow accumulation at higher elevations. Alpine wind southwest 30 to 50 km/h. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.
Monday
Cloudy with rain, 4 cm of new snow accumulation at higher elevations. Alpine wind southwest 30 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 1500 m,
Tuesday
Cloudy with rain, 2-6 cm of new snow accumulation at higher elevations. Alpine wind south 30 to 60 km/h. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.
- Avoid terrain traps such as gullies and cliffs where the consequence of any avalanche could be serious.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Dense storm snow overlies light, low-density snow and may remain reactive to human triggering, particularly in wind-loaded terrain.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
A weak layer of facets overlying a crust exists down 50 to 100 cm. This layer is most likely to be an issue in wind-loaded, high alpine terrain where the recent storm snow remains dry.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 21st, 2024 4:00PM
