Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 16th, 2024 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada isnowsell, Avalanche Canada

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New snow may not be bonding to the cold, wind-affected surfaces below. This could lead to loose avalanches in steep terrain and reactive slabs in pockets of deeper wind-deposited snow.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity has been reported since the weekend.

If you head into the backcountry, please consider submitting a MIN report.

Snowpack Summary

New snow is burying previously wind-affected snow surfaces in wind-exposed terrain at treeline and above. The recent cold and clear weather has likely led to widespread facet and surface hoar development which may prolong the bonding of new snow to the underlying surfaces.

An old crust is present down roughly 40 to 80 cm from the surface. In isolated areas, the overlying snow may not be bonding great to this crust.

The lower snowpack consists of several layers of facets, surface hoar, and crusts, none of which appear to be an active concern currently.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow, southwest alpine winds 0 to 20 km/h, treeline temperature -10 °C.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow, northeast alpine winds 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -17 °C.

Thursday

Partly cloudy with no precipitation, east alpine winds 0 to 20 km/h, treeline temperature -17 °C.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with trace snow amounts, southwest alpine winds 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

New snow may not be bonding to underlying surfaces. This will present a greater hazard in areas where more snow has accumulated, like wind-loaded slopes.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 17th, 2024 4:00PM