Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 23rd, 2021 5:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Cornices.
cmortenson,
Avalanche Canada
Low hazard still requires good decision making, especially in committing terrain. Remain cautious around cornices, shallow rocky alpine slopes or terrain where a small sluff or a thin wind slab avalanche could have large consequences.
Summary
Confidence
High - Confidence is due to a stable weather pattern; little change is expected for several days.
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY NIGHT: A mix of cloudy and clear skies, light southwest wind, treeline temperatures around -14 C.
SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy with sun breaks and isolated flurries, light southwest wind, treeline temperatures around -11 C.
MONDAY: Mostly cloudy with sun breaks and isolated flurries, light wind, treeline temperatures around -8 C.
TUESDAY: A mix of sun and clouds with isolated flurries, light wind, treeline temperatures around -10 C.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been observed. However, cornices are growing fragile with continued cold conditions faceting their bonds. Cornices represent a significant hazard underfoot when travelling along ridge crests as well as when they threaten slopes overhead.
Snowpack Summary
Alpine and upper treeline terrain is heavily wind affected with large regions of scoured surfaces, pockets of soft wind transported snow and pockets of hard wind slab in lee regions or ridge crests. A hard crust is found below 1900 m and increases in thickness with lower elevations. Surface hoar and near-surface faceting continues to develop with cold clear temperatures and is slowly softening these various hard surfaces and also weakening the bonds of cornices. Â
A solid mid-pack sits above buried crust and facet layers near the bottom of the snowpack (150-200 cm deep). These deeper weaknesses are currently unreactive, but have periodically produced large avalanches in alpine terrain during intense storms.
Terrain and Travel
- Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
- Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
Problems
Cornices
Cornices are growing fragile with continued cold temperatures. Cornices often fail along ridge crests surprisingly far back from the edge. Cornice failures are a significant hazard on their own - but can also trigger stubborn wind slab avalanches when they fail.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 24th, 2021 5:00PM
