Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 18th, 2023 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada swerner, Avalanche Canada

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Normal caution should be sufficient to manage the small, thin wind slabs lingering around higher elevations. Let it snow!

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported on Tuesday.

Thin, small wind slabs were reported after a skiff of new snow and a round of ski cutting on Monday.

Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

A few cm of recent snow has been getting blown around on top of a crust that exists to 2000 m. This crust was the result of warming last the weekend. Above this elevation it blends into heavily wind-affected snow, with some thin new wind slabs in exposed terrain.

The mid-pack continues to settle and consolidate. Basal facets are found in the bottom 20-40 cm.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Ridge wind is moderate from the southwest. Alpine temperatures near -8 and freezing levels valley bottom.

Thursday

Mainly cloudy with possible flurries. Moderate to strong southwest winds, increasing over the day and switching to the West. Treeline high temperatures are around -4 C.

Friday

Cloudy with light northwest winds at ridgetop. Treeline high temperatures around -3 C.

Saturday

Cloudy. Light to moderate northwest winds, easing over the day. Treeline high temperatures around -4 C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to isolated alpine features as well as cross-loaded features at treeline.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Small, thin wind slabs may be found in leeward pockets in exposed terrain.

Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Jan 19th, 2023 4:00PM