Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 8th, 2016 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Dry.
stephen holeczi,
Avalanche Canada
We are back to the "green brick" and it will likely stay there for a while yet. As you push into bigger, steeper terrain watch for pockets of small wind slab or sloughing of facets which will have big consequences in terrain traps. SH
Summary
Weather Forecast
The NW flow will continue through the weekend with no snow. There will be a slight temperature inversion Saturday but alpine temps will stay in the -5 to -7 range. It's a long way off, but so far there isn't significant snow in the forecast for at least the next week.
Check our weather stations for current conditions.
Snowpack Summary
3-10cm of low density new snow sits over the Jan 6 surface hoar and facets. Isolated wind slabs exist in the alpine near ridge crests. Buried sun crusts exist on steep S/SW aspects. Below 2000m, the Dec 3 layer of surface hoar and facets remains visible down 20-50 cm but is currently dormant. Thin areas are faceting out and weakening.
Avalanche Summary
Most reports are of minor sluffing out of extreme terrain to size 1.5 over the last 24 hours. Most of the activity occurred yesterday with increased winds. Activity has slowed, but small soft wind slabs are still being reported in the high alpine near ridge crests.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
Some small wind slab development occurred on Thursday with the NE winds as the arctic air arrived. These are small and seem confined to immediate alpine lee areas, but could be a problem if they push you into a terrain trap (gully or over a cliff).
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
Loose dry sluffs can be triggered in steep terrain due to the combination of recent snow and surface facetting. The sluffs are running far and can easily gain enough mass to affect a climber, skier or boarder in confined features.
- On steep slopes, pull over periodically or cut into a new line to manage sluffing.
- Be aware of party members below you that may be exposed to your sluffs.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 9th, 2016 4:00PM
