Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 11th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Deep Persistent Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
JMackenzie,
Avalanche Canada
Although the hazard has decreased slightly, forecasters are still very concerned with the snowpack structure. The bottom half of the snowpack is very weak, and full-depth avalanches will remain a real concern for some time to come. Very conservative route selection is still in order.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
Nothing new observed today.
Snowpack Summary
The snowpack has seen very little change in recent times. The mid-December surface hoar layer down 30cm at Treeline continues to react as a persistent slab with compression tests in the moderate range. Below this, the remainder of the snowpack is heavily facetted. Any avalanche triggered in the upper snowpack will almost certainly step down to the ground.
Despite a slight improvement in the hazard, forecasters are approaching all terrain conservatively and do not have much confidence in the snow pack, as it's one of the worst we've seen in many, many years.
Weather Summary
Thursday will be very windy with a mix of sun and cloud. Ridgetop temperatures should reach -5C as a high. A trace amount of flurries are possible for Friday with rain at lower elevations.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
- Be aware of the potential for surprisingly large avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Problems
Deep Persistent Slabs
This layer will be easier to trigger from thin, weak shallow areas. Wide propagations are possible.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
If triggered the persistent slab is very likely to steep down to the deeper instability and involve the entire winter's snowpack.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 12th, 2023 4:00PM
