Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 29th, 2021 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs.
ldreier,
Avalanche Canada
Up to 20 cm new snow might build reactive slabs in areas where it overlies surface hoar. Strong southwest wind will create touchy wind slabs in the alpine and at treeline elevations.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the track & intensity of the incoming weather system.
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY NIGHT: Cloudy, 10 cm new snow and up to 30 cm in the very south of the region, strong southerly wind, treeline temperature -8 C.
SATURDAY: Mainly cloudy, up to 2 cm new snow, moderate southerly wind, treeline temperature -8 C.
SUNDAY: Mainly cloudy, 1 cm new snow, moderate southeast wind, treeline temperature -12 C.
MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, trace of new snow, light southerly wind, treeline temperature -10 C.
Avalanche Summary
A few wind slab avalanches up to size 2 released naturally in the alpine on westerly aspects. These wind slabs were likely formed by the northerly and easterly outflow winds on Tuesday and Wednesday. Recent glide snow avalanche activity was reported on Wednesday. On Tuesday, explosive control in the north produced a few small avalanches in the recent snow.Â
Snowpack Summary
20-30 cm of recent snow sits on a crust below 1000 m and surface hoar in sheltered locations at and below treeline. The layers in the mid and base of the snowpack have gained strength with high snowfall amounts in January. Deeper layers appear to have gone inactive in the southern part of the region. However, in the northern part of the region (e.g. Bear Pass, Ningunsaw) there has still been regular avalanche activity on weak snow at the bottom of the snowpack with large loads such as explosives or cornice collapses.
Terrain and Travel
- Be aware of the potential for larger than expected storm slabs due to the presence of buried surface hoar.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
- Watch your sluff: it may run faster and further than you expect.
Problems
Storm Slabs
It snowed 10 cm on Friday and with another 10 cm forecast for Friday night the recent snow might build reactive slabs in areas where it overlies surface hoar. This surface hoar layer is likely preserved in sheltered areas at treeline elevations and below treeline.
Strong southwest wind will redistribute the storm snow and form touchy fresh wind slabs in lee terrain features on northerly and easterly aspects in the alpine and at treeline. Older wind slabs were formed on westerly aspects and may still be reactive. Wind slabs will be particularly reactive anywhere snow overlies buried surface hoar or crust.
In steep and wind-protected areas loose snow avalanches (sluffs) are expected.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 30th, 2021 4:00PM
