Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 25th, 2016 4:17PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Storm Slabs.
grant statham,
Avalanche Canada
Conditions are tricky right now! Avalanche control results today showed widespread results between size 2 and 3. Additionally, ice climbs with exposure to avalanche terrain should be evaluated carefully - avoid them if they have not yet run.
Summary
Weather Forecast
The region is currently under the influence of a NW flow, with the main storm track to our north. Starting Tuesday afternoon a system moves into the area and we can expect 5-10 cm through the afternoon and evening with temperatures around -5 and winds from the west, 25-50 km/hr.
Snowpack Summary
40-50 cm reactive slabs overlie the January 6 weak layer, and these slabs are reactive to explosive and human triggers. The middle of the snowpack is facetted, which has been increasing the size of avalanches as they gain mass while descending. All steep gully areas should be considered suspect.
Avalanche Summary
Avalanches are running far. Monday's avalanche control work on highway 93 south resulted in widespread avalanches between size 2 and 3 with fracture lines ranging from 25-50 cm deep. In Kootenay Park, some fracture lines extended up to 350m wide and ran over 1500m.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
Windslabs are likely to be triggered in leeward areas above treeline - we are on the tail end of an avalanche cycle, and human triggering is likely in many areas.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Storm Slabs
This problem exists in deeper snowpack areas - such as Kootenay Park where slabs have been formed by settled snow overlying the Jan 6 surface hoar layer. Watch out - these are touchy and propagate easily.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 26th, 2016 4:00PM
