Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 4th, 2016 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
Ian Jackson,
Avalanche Canada
Good skiing can still be found in sheltered areas. Watch for windslabs in the high alpine!
Summary
Weather Forecast
Increased cloudiness and minimal snowfall amounts are expected Tues through Thurs. Starting Thursday, we may see ~ 5 cm of new snow, but we'll wait and see if that materializes. Winds will be light from the S/SW. Temperatures shouldn't be inverted and in the -5 to -15 range. Check our weather stations for current conditions.
Snowpack Summary
Overall, the snowpack is well settled with few weaknesses. Sun crusts exist on steep S/SW aspects and large surface hoar is forming below 2000m. Isolated wind slabs exist in the alpine. Below 1900m, the Dec 3 layer of surface hoar and facets remains visible down 30--50 cm but is currently dormant. Thin areas are faceting out and weakening.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed or reported today.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
We have not had any recent reports but several natural and skier triggered avalanches (up to size 1.5) have occurred in the past week. These slabs should be visible on the surface, so heads up in steep wind effected areas!
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.
Aspects: North, North East, East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 5th, 2016 4:00PM
