Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 24th, 2024 1:30PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.

Avalanche Canada Mikey, Avalanche Canada

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The wind slab is sitting overtop of facets. Use caution in avalanche terrain and expect human triggered avalanches

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new has been reported or observed. The forecaster were in the Dogleg area (between Hero's Knob and Black Prince).

Snowpack Summary

The top 30cm of the snowpack is either made up of settled snow or wind slab and is overlying 5-15cm of facets. These wind slabs were found at treeline and above and produced some cracking when travelling uphill. The December 5th crust can be found in the lower third of the snowpack and is starting to break down and could wake up and produce larger avalanches, especially triggered from thinner areas. It was very noticeable how variable the alpine is in terms of snow height, anywhere from bare rock to 100cm of snow. The warmer weather over the last few days and in the near future is helping the snowpack but this is a slow process.

Weather Summary

Warm weather continues but the alpine will remain cool. For Thursday, expect clouds, sun and some isolated flurries with a high of -6c. Ridge winds are forecast from the West at 40km/h with a freezing level of 1400m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

This wind slab is found at treeline and above and is up to 30cm thick.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs

This layer is getting getting buried deeper and deeper over time. The weight and amount of new snow is slowly increasing, which will increase the size of any potential avalanches.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Valid until: Jan 25th, 2024 4:00PM