Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 28th, 2013 8:06AM

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

ali haeri, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Watch for buried sun crust or surface hoar layers that could be triggered beneath this past weeks storm snow.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A weak upper trough will bring overcast skies with light precipitation today. Northwesterly low pressure system pushes against an arctic front bringing light to moderate amounts tomorrow with colder temperatures.

Snowpack Summary

10 cm of low density new snow. Jan 23 layer is down 55cm. This layer is a sun crust on steep south and west aspects and surface hoar to 9mm below 1800m. The Nov 6 crust is down 200cm.

Avalanche Summary

1 natural slab size 2.0 in the highway corridor west of the Rogers Pass summit

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Tuesday

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm snow continues to settle into a more cohesive slab. 50cm sits on a sun crust on steep south and west aspects and over surface hoar below 1800m. Wind effect on north and east aspects may exist.

Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Dry

Up to 10 cm of light snow overnight will sluff easily in sufficiently steep slopes. Caution over terrain traps like cliffs and gullies.

Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 29th, 2013 8:00AM