Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 13th, 2016 8:14AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Loose Dry.

ian gale, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Up to 25cm of new snow has fallen! Watch for rising temps and increasing winds that could build this snow into a reactive slab.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Another 10 cm is forecasted to fall today and into Thursday morning. Winds are forecasted to be in the light range from the south today but gusts are possible to 35km/hr and the temps are rising, freezing level could get up to 1450m this afternoon.

Snowpack Summary

In the alpine up to 30 cm of new snow buries the January 4th interface. This layer is most notably surface hoar in protected areas, sun crust on steep S - SW aspects and loose facets at treeline and below. With relatively light wind this new snow remains unconsolidated but with increasing temps and wind this could create a more reactive slab

Avalanche Summary

Numerous avalanches up to size 2 were observed from very steep cliffy terrain yesterday. All these avalanches were storm slabs within the 20 cm of new snow running on the old recrystallized surface.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Problems

Storm Slabs

30cm of new snow may bond poorly to the old snow surface. Currently new snow is low density but with rising temps and forecasted wind gusts a slab could build.

Use caution on open slopes and convex rollsUse caution in lee areas. Wind loading could create slabs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Dry

Up to 20cm of new snow overlies the weak facetted Jan 4 layer, expect this new snow to sluff in steep terrain and run fast. This a concern around terrain traps like gullies or steep terrain where a fall could have consequences.

Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 14th, 2016 8:00AM