Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 29th, 2020 5:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
dsaly,
Avalanche Canada
Winds slabs maintain an ongoing concern as steady winds continue to redistribute loose snow. Watch for reactive pockets around steep rolls and ridge features.
Summary
Confidence
Weather Forecast
Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries. Alpine low temperature -8 C. Moderate west winds.
Thursday: Mix of sun and cloud. Alpine high temperature -6 C. Moderate west winds. Freezing level climbing to 1500 m.
Friday: Mix of sun, cloud and flurries, 5 cm. Alpine high temperature 0 C. Moderate southwest winds with strong gusts. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.
Saturday: Flurries and snow, 10-15 cm. Alpine high temperature -1 C. Moderate southwest wind gusting strong to extreme. Freezing level dropping to 1600 m.
Avalanche Summary
Several recent natural, small to large (size 1-2.5) wind slab avalanches were reported on northwest through northeast aspects at upper elevations on Monday.
On January 16th, a natural, size 2 wind slab stepped down to the deep persistent basal facets below a rock band, details here.
Snowpack Summary
Continuing west and southwest winds have formed stiff wind slabs on lee and cross-loaded terrain features at upper elevations.
A crust can be found up to treeline and on solar aspects in the alpine due to previous warming and sun exposure.
A well consolidated mid-pack overlies a generally weak basal snowpack. The bottom 10-20 cm of the snowpack consists of facets and deteriorating crusts. Although inherently weak, the benign weather pattern early this week likely promoted a decreasing trend in reactivity for this avalanche problem. Areas that are most likely to harbor this problem are shallow, rocky start zones.
Terrain and Travel
- Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Strong southwest southwest winds have drifted available snow into stiff wind slabs in lee and cross-loaded features at alpine and treeline.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 30th, 2020 5:00PM
