Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 22nd, 2014 8:00AM

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

chris gooliaff, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Summary

Weather Forecast

The remains of a weakening trough will move through the area, bringing cloudy conditions with minimal snowfall. Alpine temperatures will hover near -2*C and ridge winds will be light from the N/NW. The ridge will rebuild after today, clearing the skies once again.

Snowpack Summary

A light dusting overnight freshened up the firm windslabs in the alpine and tree-line elevations. The mid-pack is well settled. The Nov surface hoar, down 180cm, has spotty distribution. The basal layers are more facetted and generally weaker than the rest of the snowpack. Expect a sun crust on steep south aspects and a rain crust below 1300m.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity yesterday.

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable

Problems

Wind Slabs

There may still be a few lingering slab pockets in steeper, unsupported features that could surprise a person. This being said, there has been little activity observed on the surface windslabs,

Watch for areas of hard wind slab in steep alpine features.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

The November persistent weak layer will need a large load, like a cornice, to be triggered. The isolated nature of its distribution makes it hard to forecast for this layer.

Extra caution needed around cornices with current conditions.Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

3 - 4

Valid until: Jan 23rd, 2014 8:00AM