Avalanche forecast

South Rockies

Jan 21, 2017Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 10 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

The consequence of triggering a large persistent slab avalanche warrants a cautious approach to steep open terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Recent flurries and winds have formed thin wind slabs.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3
    Triggering deeper weak layers remains possible where hard slabs sit above weak sugary snow.

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods, light winds, alpine temperatures around -5 C.SUNDAY: Cloudy, light to moderate southeast winds, alpine temperatures around -7 C.MONDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, light to moderate east winds, alpine temperatures around -10 C.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported on Friday. On Thursday, avalanche reports were limited to a size 1 skier-triggered wind slab on a steep convex below treeline feature.Wind slabs may remain possible to trigger in isolated locations over the weekend. The main concern continues to be the possibility of triggering the weak faceted layers deeper in the snowpack, although uncertainty revolves around what type of loading or weak spots are required for human triggering.

Snowpack Summary

Recent flurries and winds have formed hard wind slabs on lee features in exposed terrain, while warm temperatures have moistened the upper snowpack below treeline. The snowpack is quite variable throughout the region. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer buried 50 to 100 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is heavily faceted. Triggering a persistent slab in thinner snowpack area may result in a full depth avalanche.

Regions covered