Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 30th, 2013 8:08AM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is high, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Loose Dry.

jon schleiss, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Overnight rising winds and lots of available soft snow have created avalanche conditions. Use caution when crossing avalanche runnouts as avalanches are running full path.

Summary

Weather Forecast

NW flow brings cloudy skies today. Thursday and Friday very light to nil snow.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 55cm of low density new snow. Jan 23 layer is down 65cm. This layer is a sun crust on steep south and west aspects and surface hoar to 9mm below 1800m. The Nov 6 crust is down 200cm. Watch for power sluffing in steep terrain and soft slabs running to valley bottom.

Avalanche Summary

Overnight avalanches have been running to the end of their runnouts up to size 3.0.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Problems

Storm Slabs

Rising winds overnight and lots of deep soft snow available for wind transport will create storm/wind slabs at treeline and in the alpine. Be aware of soft slab formation in the lee of features at ridgelines. These soft slabs are running end fan.

Use caution in lee areas in the alpine. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.Space out and travel quickly through runout zones of avalanche paths.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Loose Dry

50 to 70cm of light storm snow will sluff easily in steep terrain. Use caution near terrain traps like cliffs and gullies.

Be aware of party members below you that may be exposed to your sluffs.Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Jan 31st, 2013 8:00AM