Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 23rd, 2020 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada mmueller, Avalanche Canada

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Consistent weather is slowly improving our snowpack, but big terrain and paths that haven't avalanched are still worth some thought before jumping in.

Summary

Confidence

No Rating -

Weather Forecast

Flurries throughout the weekend with a slightly stronger pulse on Sunday. Tomorrow's high will be -3. 20-30km/hr winds with gusts up to 50 at treeline.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new today.

Snowpack Summary

Yesterday saw another 10cm of snow on the Spray Road. Today, winds at all elevations blew this snow around to form drifts and windslabs. Ski tests didn't show an obvious weak bond, but in steep areas that would have stiffer slabs underneath, the bond could be poor. The Dec 11th layer is down 50cm, and so far unreactive. Having said that, surface hoar is notorious for "waking up" and becoming a problem. The deep layers are still there. The alpine, thin snowpack areas are the probable places to have it become a problem.

Terrain and Travel

  • This avalanche problem is difficult to trigger but if so, consequences are serious.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

When aren't windslabs a problem? Never. We have 'em in spades, yet in the last few days we haven't seen much activity among them. Watch roll overs at treeline & alpine as the slabs will be thicker there and under tension. 

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs

These are still on the radar. It's worth digging or probing to inspect it. Large triggers are also worth considering, if the bottom layer is disturbed it will be a very big avalanche. 

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3.5

Valid until: Jan 24th, 2020 4:00PM