Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 24th, 2020 5:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is below threshold. Known problems include Storm Slabs.

Avalanche Canada cgarritty, Avalanche Canada

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Heavy snowfall and strong wind are ramping up avalanche danger in the region on Sunday. Opt for simple, low angle terrain that is free of overhead hazard. Updated Sunday at 0630h

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with isolated flurries, moderate wind from the southwest, alpine high temperatures around -10 C.

SATURDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5-10 cm, moderate wind from the south, alpine high temperatures around -11 C.

SUNDAY: Snow, accumulation 15-25 cm, moderate to strong wind from the southwest, alpine high temperatures around -7 C.

MONDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5-10 cm, moderate south wind, alpine high temperatures around -8 C.

Avalanche Summary

There have been no reports of avalanche activity in the past few days. Expect natural storm slab activity to increase on Sunday when moderate to heavy snowfall is forecast.

Snowpack Summary

30 cm of very light new snow has fallen over the past several days. Initially this snow fell with very little wind and is obscuring widespread wind effect from last week. Lingering buried hard wind slabs may still be found. Prolonged cold temperatures last week have faceted the buried wind slabs and wind crust formed during the wind event. 

Snow depths at White Pass average around 150 cm; deeper locations (higher terrain west of the highway) have as much as 200 cm. It's reasonable to expect a thin snowpack with sugary facets in the Wheaton Valley, although we don't yet have observations to confirm this.

Terrain and Travel

  • Use increased caution at all elevations. Storm snow is forming touchy slabs.
  • Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind exposed terrain.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

Heavy snowfall and strong wind will be forming a widespread new storm slab problem on Sunday. Expect slab depth and reactivity to increase over the day and with elevation.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 27th, 2020 5:00PM

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