Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 4th, 2023 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Deep Persistent Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

Avalanche Canada BW, Avalanche Canada

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Natural avalanches are tapering off, but human triggering is still a real possibility. Conservative decision making and careful terrain selection is required.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Both ski areas reported small avalanches with explosives. A road patrol to Bow Summit in good visibility showed no new avalanches in past 24 hours.

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of soft surface snow in many areas gives good ski quality providing there is a supportive mid-pack. The mid-pack is generally weak with two persistent layers that show moderate results with snowpack tests. All slopes steep enough to slide should be considered suspect right now.

Weather Summary

An upper ridge over the area will persist through Friday. Thursday will see mainly sunny skies with some afternoon cloudy periods. Alpine winds will be SW at 30-40 km/hr. Alpine temperatures will be in the -5 to -10 range. Some light snow forecast for Friday.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices at this time.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs

The bottom of the snowpack is very weak and faceted. Natural avalanche activity has lessened, but forecasters are still concerned about skier triggered avalanches stepping down to this layer.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

Slabs 25-60cm thick sit over a Dec. 17 weak layer of facets that was on the surface during the prolonged deep freeze. Test results show "sudden" failures which indicate that human triggering is likely. Caution is advised on all open slopes.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Valid until: Jan 5th, 2023 4:00PM