Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 19th, 2023 4:00PM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

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As you climb up to alpine elevations watch for wind-affected areas with pockets of deeper, cohesive slabby snow that may remain reactive to human triggering.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No reports of recent avalanche activity on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Surface: Lingering isolated wind slabs above 2000 m where snow remains dry. At treeline and below (2000 m and lower) the snowpack has a frozen crust. At 1600 m this crust is under 10 to 20 cm of recent snow.

Mid- and Lower-snowpack: Below the most recent snow the layers are well-settled. There may be some weaker layers but it seems thick frozen crusts are effectively capping them.

Snowpack depths are roughly 150 cm cm at treeline and tapers rapidly below 1500 m. This is about 60% of an average year.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Precipitation: Trace. Alpine temperature: Low -5 °C. Ridge wind west: 20 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Friday: Cloudy with sunny periods. Precipitation: Nil. Alpine temperature: High -2 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 10 km/h. Freezing level: 700 metres.

Saturday

Flurries. Accumulation: around 10 cm. Alpine temperature: Low -4 °C, High -1 °C. Ridge wind southwest moderate. Freezing level: around 600 metres.

Sunday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Precipitation: Trace. Alpine temperature: Low -6 °C, High -4 °C. Mostly light northwest ridge wind . Freezing level: 500 metres.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • The best and safest riding will be on slopes that have soft snow without any slab properties.
  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

At higher elevations where the snow remains dry, southerly winds redistributed new snow into alpine lees. Wind slabs may be lingering.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 20th, 2023 4:00PM