Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 4th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Deep Persistent Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
BW,
Avalanche Canada
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
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
Expected Size
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
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 5th, 2023 4:00PM
