Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 7th, 2017 8:03AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
ross campbell,
Parks Canada
High quality skiing and riding can be found in many locations. However slab avalanches can still be triggered on specific terrain features.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Today expect a mix of sun and cloud, no precip, an alpine high of -10 and wind SE @15km/h. Cloudy tonight, light snow on Sunday (up to 4cm) and 10cm on Monday with the freezing level rising to 1000m accompanied by mod to strong winds. By Wednesday the Arctic high pressure returns with frigid temps and clear skies.
Snowpack Summary
Previous strong N'ly winds hammered exposed slopes in the Alpine and at treeline. Leaving behind windslabs on specific locations, the Dec 26th surface hoar is spotty and doesn't exist in all locations. The December 18th interface is easier to find (50-80cm down) still producing hard results in tests with varying fracture character.
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday, skiers accidentally triggered a size 1.5 windslab on a SW aspect at 2350m (see their MIN for details). In the region there were several similar reports of triggerable wind slabs up to 50cm deep. There have been no natural avalanches observed in the park for a few days. In addition there have been reports of cornices failing.
Confidence
Due to the number and quality of field observations
Problems
Wind Slabs
Previous reverse loading has left behind wind slabs and firm wind pressed snow in the Alpine and at Tree line. Most of the skier triggered avalanches reported have been on Southerly aspects in shallow areas of the Alpine.
Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.Avoid traveling on ledges and cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 8th, 2017 8:00AM
