Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 10th, 2016 7:47AM

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

Avalanche Canada pmarshall, Avalanche Canada

It looks like one more mainly dry day before the snow returns. Avalanche danger will rise as new snow accumulates. How quickly this happens depends on how much snow and wind we see.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Tuesday

Weather Forecast

Monday: Increasing cloud with snow in the afternoon. The freezing level is around 500-600 m. Ridge winds should increase to moderate from the S-SW. Tuesday: Periods of snow – 15-25 cm from Monday evening through Tuesday. The freezing level is around 800 m. Winds are moderate to strong from the SW. Wednesday: Cloudy with light snow. The freezing level is near 800 m and winds ease to light from the W-NW.

Avalanche Summary

Some minor loose snow sluffing has been observed but there are no new reports of slab avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

10-15 cm of dry snow sits on a variety of old surfaces including a melt-freeze crust on solar aspects in the alpine, smooth old snow on higher elevation lee slopes, and well-developed surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline and lower elevations. This dry surface snow is capped by a sun crust on steep solar aspects, or a fresh layer of surface hoar on sheltered and shady slopes at all elevations. Variable winds have created soft wind slabs in lee and cross-loaded terrain in alpine areas. The mid and lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of shallow snowpack areas.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Small wind slabs may be sensitive to rider triggering in steep and unsupported lee and cross-loaded terrain.
Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 11th, 2016 2:00PM