Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 6th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs, Persistent Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
trettie,
Avalanche Canada
Be prepared to dial back your terrain choice and look for signs of instability
Conditions vary throughout the region
There is some uncertainty in the reactivity of weak layers in the snowpack
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
We have not recieved any reports of avalanches at the time of writing. We suspect that natural avalanche activity occurred during the day on Saturday at treeline and above in drainages that recieved over 30 cm in the past 24 hrs.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 50 cm of recent snow has formed storm slabs at all elevations. A variety of surfaces are found below this new snow including surface hoar in sheltered terrain and a crust below 1600 m.
Two additional surface hoar layers in the top 1.5 m of the snowpack remain a concern. The deeper of the two likely has a robust crust above it below treeline.
The depth of the snowpack varies greatly throughout the region. Weak basal facets characterize the base of the snowpack.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Clear with cloudy periods, trace amounts of new snow expected, northeast alpine wind 15 to 25 km/h, treeline temperature -13°C.
Sunday
Sunny with no new snow expected, northwest alpine wind 15 to 25 km/h, treeline temperature -13°C.
Monday
Mostly cloudy with around 5 cm of new snow expected, west alpine wind 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -11°C.
Tuesday
Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of new snow expected, southwest alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -11°C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
- Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- In times of uncertainty conservative terrain choices are our best defense.
Problems
Storm Slabs
New snow accompanied by southerly wind will form storm and wind slabs throughout the day. These slabs will overlie a layer of large surface hoar making them more reactive at treeline.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
2 surface hoar layers can be found in the top 1.5 m of the snowpack. These layers are getting harder to rider trigger but may be triggered by storm or wind slabs stepping down.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
Basal facets remain a concern, particularly in steep, rocky terrain characterized by varying snowpack depths ranging from thin to thick.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 7th, 2024 4:00PM
