Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 17th, 2021 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs.
ahanna,
Avalanche Canada
As you gain elevation, carefully monitor how new snow is bonding to the crust. Storm slabs may become increasingly reactive with rising temperatures and sunshine. The underlying crust offers a slick bed surface for snow (and people) to slide far and fast.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the timing or intensity of solar radiation and its effect on the snowpack. Uncertainty is due to rapidly fluctuating freezing levels.
Weather Forecast
Sunday night: Clearing, light to moderate northerly ridgetop wind, freezing level 800 m.
Monday: Sunny, light northerly ridgetop wind, freezing level 1600 m.
Tuesday: Mix of sun and cloud with evening flurries developing, westerly ridgetop wind building to strong, freezing level 2300 m dropping to 700 m.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, light variable ridgetop wind, freezing level 600 m.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches reported. Glide cracks were observed to be opening up during the wet storm earlier in the week.
Snowpack Summary
Above 1200 m, around 10 cm of new snow sits on a thick block of icy rain crust which may be bridging a weaker layer of dry, sugary faceted snow. Affecting this weak snow through the thick crust would be difficult and avalanches on it are unlikely but not impossible in unsupported terrain. Below, the snowpack is a multi tiered sandwich of crusts and moist snow and is well consolidated.
Watch North Shore Rescue's weekly snowpack conditions update from Friday here.
Terrain and Travel
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.
- Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
- Brief periods of sun could quickly initiate natural avalanche activity.
- Keep in mind the crust offers an excellent bed surface for avalanches.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Recent snow at upper elevations is not expected to adhere well to the crust and may become increasingly reactive with rising temperatures and sunshine. Deeper pockets of wind deposited storm slab may exist in leeward terrain features.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 18th, 2021 4:00PM
