Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 8th, 2020 8:15AM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is high, and the below treeline rating is high. Known problems include Storm Slabs, Persistent Slabs and Loose Dry.

chris gooliaff, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Go to the ski hill today! 70cm overnight has caused a natural avalanche cycle that is continuing with strong S'ly winds.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Unsettled air will persist as the low pressure trough moves out of the region.

Today: Flurries, 5cm. Freezing levels dropping to the valley floor. Mod/strong S'ly winds.

Tonight: Flurries, trace to 5cm. Freezing level valley floor. Light W'ly winds.

Tomorrow: Isolated flurries, alpine temps -17*C, light W'ly winds

Snowpack Summary

Whoa! The snowpack just got stressed overnight! Over 70cm fell last night at tree-line, bringing the weekly total to over 1.5m. Several weaknesses in the new snow can be found in the metre+ that lays above the persistent Dec 27th layer. The November and early Dec crusts and surface hoar layers may awaken with the rapid increase in load.

Avalanche Summary

The natural avalanche cycle roared all night and continues today. Avalanches from artillery overnight ranged from sz 2.5 to 3.5 from most targets. Expect the natural avalanche cycle to continue with strong S'ly winds reloading the start zones all day.

Confidence

Problems

Storm Slabs

70cm of new snow with gusty S winds has created touchy storm slabs. Expect buried slabs from this past week's snow and extreme S winds. Approach all open terrain with caution. Large paths have the potential to run to valley bottom.

Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.
Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3.5

Persistent Slabs

Storm slabs have the potential to step down to the December 27th SH, which is now buried over a metre deep.

If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Loose Dry

70cm of new snow has the potential to entrain a lot of mass as it flows downhill.

Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain, particularly where the debris flows into terrain traps.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Valid until: Jan 9th, 2020 8:00AM