Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 22nd, 2019 8:07AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
ross campbell,
Parks Canada
Thank you for all the MIN reports! Have a great day out there. Be mindful of isolated wind slabs, plus the regular hazards: Cornices, Crevasses, terrain traps etc..
Summary
Weather Forecast
The majority of this weak storm will miss us unfortunately. Snow today with only 5cm of accumulation, winds will moderate gusting to the low end of strong from the SW, and the Fl rising to 800m. Tonight we'll receive another 5cm, cooling temps and abating winds. Wednesday only flurries, before the next high-pressure engulfs us.
Snowpack Summary
The snowpack is settled and strong except for a few layers of note. First and foremost, the Jan17th SH layer buried 15-30cm. This layer is only problematic where the wind has created soft slabs above it. The buried PWLs (Nov 21st and Oct Crust) have been unreactive in stability tests, but may wake up later in the season, or in shallow areas.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed in the HWY corridor, or reported from the backcountry. There were 3 interesting avalanches over the weekend; one skier control size 2 in the Lookout Couloirs and 2 skier accidentals. One in Hospital Bowl and the other in the Ravens; both skier accidentals posted a MIN, or reported it to the Rogers Pass Discovery Center.
Confidence
Due to the number and quality of field observations
Problems
Wind Slabs
Over the weekend we received 20cm of new snow accompanied by extreme winds forming wind slabs in isolated locations throughout the park. This soft slab overlies the Jan 17th SH in sheltered areas and old unreactive wind slabs in exposed terrain.
Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 23rd, 2019 8:00AM
