Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 15th, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
dboucher,
Avalanche Canada
In your quest for dry snow in the high alpine, watch for pockets of wind slab that are still possible to trigger. At lower elevations a thick surface crust reduces the likelihood of avalanche activity.
Summary
Confidence
Weather Forecast
Unsettled conditions and shifting freezing levels remain until Monday, when the next front approaches bringing light snow to the Coast.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with clear periods, no precipitation, 20-30 km/h westerly winds, low alpine temperature -4 C with freezing level around 1300 m.
SUNDAY: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, accumulation 1-3 cm, 20-40 km/h southwesterly winds, high alpine temperature -1 C with freezing level around 1500 m.
MONDAY: Flurries, accumulation 10-15 cm, 20-30 km/h southwesterly winds, high alpine temperature +1 C with freezing level around 1500m.
TUESDAY: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, accumulation 1-3 cm, 5-10 km/h easterly winds, high alpine temperature -3 C with freezing level around 1300 m.
Avalanche Summary
Recent heavy precipitation and warm temperatures produced widespread natural avalanche cycles at all elevations. Upper treeline and alpine terrain produced storm slabs to size 3 in most areas. At treeline and below saw wet loose and slab avalanche cycles to size 3 on all aspects, during the most intense rain and warming. Following the storm, avalanche activity has tappered off on Friday and Saturday.
Snowpack Summary
Heavy precipitation over the last week has created a variety of surface snow conditions. Recent snowfalls with strong southwest winds have created pockets of dry snow at alpine elevations on north through east facing slopes. Precipitation fell as wet snow or rain below 2200m, creating saturated snow that is forming a melt freeze crust with moist snow below.
A crust that formed prior to the rain was observed up to 2000m. This is now buried up to 30 cm deep and may be breaking down at lower elevations.
Two buried weak layers of sugary, faceted grains sit in the middle and lower snowpack, at 100cm deep and 150-250 cm deep. The deeper layer was formed by heavy rain followed by a cold spell in early December. It is most prominent between 1700 and 2100 m. Avalanches on this layer are large, but sporadic and isolated. The most likely place to trigger it would be in thin, rocky snowpack areas.
The lower snowpack is well-settled and strong.
Terrain and Travel
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and wind exposure.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
- Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.
- When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Pockets of wind affected snow from the strong south-southwest winds may still be reactive to a human trigger. Take care around wind loaded ridgelines and cross loaded features mid slope.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 16th, 2022 4:00PM
