Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 14th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs, Persistent Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
trettie,
Avalanche Canada
Stick to simple terrain and give the storm snow time to settle. Even if you don't see signs of instability several layers in the snowpack could still be sensitive to rider traffic.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
On Friday A natural avalanche cycle on all aspects and elevations to size 3.5 occurred throughout the Selkirks and Monashees.
In addition to the natural avalanches there was also several skier remotes, accidentals and ski cuts. These avalanches were generally up to size 2 and were triggered on one of the 2 surface hoar layers buried in January.
Snowpack Summary
A recent layer of surface hoar and a crust on south facing slopes can be found under 20 to 60cm of new dense storm snow at treeline and above. Wind slabs exist on North, west and east facing terrain at treeline and above. As the freezing level falls a new crust will form below 1800m.
There are 4 additional weak layers in the snowpack. In General this years snowpack is complicated, weak and shallow.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Cloudy with flurries bringing up to 5cm of new snow. Light southerly winds. Low of -5 at 1800m.
Sunday
Cloudy with flurries bringing up to 5cm of new snow. Light to moderate southerly winds and a high of -4 at 1800m.
Monday
Cloudy with flurries bringing up to 10cm of new snow. Light to moderate southerly winds and a high of -3 at 1800m.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud with the possibility of light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light southerly winds and a high of -3 at 1800m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
- Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
- Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm slabs will likely continue to be reactive due to the surface hoar and crust they overlie. Continue to choose conservative terrain and assess the bond between slabs and the underlying surface.
There is a possibility of storm slab avalanches stepping down to deeper layers.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
As many as 5 concerning weak layers can be found in the top 1.5m of the snow pack. This is a complicated and weak snowpack. Several of these layers are at a prime depth for human triggering. Keep this in mind when deciding what slopes to ride and always consider the consequences if the slope does avalanche.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
A layer of large and weak facets sits near the base of the snowpack. This layer has most recently been problematic in lower alpine elevations.
Avoid thin and rocky start zones where weak layers sit closer to the surface, riders are most likely to trigger an avalanche on this layer in terrain with shallow or variable snow depths.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 15th, 2023 4:00PM
