Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 9th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
isnowsell,
Avalanche Canada
Make conservative terrain choices while buried weak layers persist and new snow takes time to bond to underlying layers.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanche activity has been reported.
Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 25 cm has fallen in areas since the weekend. This new snow may overlie a layer of preserved surface hoar in areas protected from the wind. A thick, supportive melt-freeze crust is buried by 30 to 60 cm and is present up to roughly 2000 m elevation. Below the crust, the mid-snowpack is generally well consolidated with no layers of concern. A weak layer of facets and a crust buried in November is down 70 to 150 cm from the surface. The lower snowpack below this November weak layer is weak and unconsolidated.
Treeline snow depths are roughly 150 to 200 cm.
Weather Summary
Monday night
Cloudy with flurries, and 2 to 5 cm. Light southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperatures 0 to -5 C.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud, with trace snow in the morning. Light southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperatures -5 to -10 C.
Wednesday
A mix of sun and cloud, with no precipitation. Light southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperatures -5 to -10 C.
Thursday
Cloudy with flurries, 0 to 5 cm. Moderate southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -5 to -10 C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices at this time.
- Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
Problems
Storm Slabs
New snow, since the weekend, potentially sits on top of large surface hoar crystals in areas sheltered from wind.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
Human triggering of deep weak layers remains possible in terrain with shallow, variable snowpacks. At lower elevations a supportive melt-freeze crust may be providing a bridging effect, making it more difficult to trigger deeper layers.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 10th, 2023 4:00PM
