Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 26th, 2015 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Loose Wet, Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
grant statham,
Avalanche Canada
One more day of warm temperatures on Tuesday before we get back to more seasonal, below freezing temperatures. Avoid avalanche terrain again on Tuesday, but expect conditions to improve dramatically by Thursday when we hit -12 at treeline.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Slowly, ever so slowly, the temperatures are starting to fall. Overnight and Tuesday expect freezing levels to drop below treeline with lows of -4 in some areas. No precipitation is expected through the remainder of the week as the slow cooling continues. By Thursday temperatures are expected to hit -12, which should lock the snowpack down.
Snowpack Summary
Warm temperatures are having a dramatic effect on the snowpack. Below 2000m the snowpack is wet and isothermal in many areas, particularly on sun exposed terrain and around rocks. Above 2000m moist snow has been blown to smithereens by yesterdays wind and deep windslabs can be expected in alpine areas with the Dec 18 surface hoar still a concern.
Avalanche Summary
The peak of the current avalanche cycle occurred on Sunday, when dozens of large natural avalanches were observed, including the path beside the Emerald Lake Slide Path. The gullies in Field all produced wet avalanches running over the ice climbs.
Confidence
Problems
Loose Wet
Wet avalanches will continue to occur on Tuesday at low elevations. Ice climbers should avoid avalanche terrain, in particular the gullies where wet avalanches have been running.
- Watch for clues, like sluffing off of cliffs, that the snowpack is warming up.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Very strong SW winds over the past few days have created deep windslabs above treeline. These slabs have the potential to trigger the deeper layers in the snowpack, making for a large avalanches. Avoid all windloaded terrain.
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
The Dec 18 surface hoar still exists in the upper 70 cm of the snowpack, and if triggered can produce a large avalanche. Areas to watch for would be open, north facing glades at treeline where surface hoar can persist for long periods of time.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 27th, 2015 4:00PM
