Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 6th, 2017 4:12PM

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

Avalanche Canada cam_c, Avalanche Canada

Touchy wind slabs are lurking in unusual places, such as south aspects. Persistent slabs still can't be totally trusted, especially in shallow snowpack areas.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries and trace amounts of fresh snow, light southeasterly winds, alpine temperature around -8.SUNDAY: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries possible, light becoming moderate southwesterly winds and alpine temperatures around -10.MONDAY: Mainly cloudy with light snowfall bringing another 10 cm, strong southwesterly ridgetop winds and alpine temperatures dropping to -15.

Avalanche Summary

Reports from Thursday include a recent Size 2 naturally occurring storm slab avalanche on a north aspect. Reports from Tuesday and Wednesday include a few natural and human-triggered sluffs and wind slab avalanches up to Size 2 and a Size 2.5 cornice fall, but generally no new avalanches. Expect wind slabs, cornices and loose surface snow to remain sensitive to human triggers for the forecast period.

Snowpack Summary

Surface hoar and surface facets have been buried by a light dusting of fresh snow. In exposed areas at all elevations, recent winds have resulted in scouring, hard wind slabs, and thicker reactive wind slabs in unusual places as the winds shifted from west to northeast. Moderate southeasterly winds are likely keeping winds slabs fresh in some areas, while old wind slabs are breaking down with faceting in other areas. Persistent weakness in the mid-pack are giving variable results in snowpack tests, but are generally most touchy in shallow snowpack areas. Recent snowpack tests gave moderate to hard but resistant results on two different layers of facets and/or buried surface hoar in the top metre. The lower snowpack seems to be well bonded, but features a crust/facet deep persistent weakness near the ground, which remains a concern in shallow rocky snowpack areas.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Touchy wind slabs are lurking below ridge crests and behind terrain features on all aspects Watch for wind slabs in unusual places, including open areas at lower elevations.
Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.Avoid travelling in areas that have been reverse loaded by winds.Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 7th, 2017 2:00PM