Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 17th, 2021 4:00PM

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

Benjamin Firth,

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The alpine has seen significant amounts of new snow followed by wind this past week. It will need some time to heal.

Sheltered locations treeline and below offer the safest and best skiing

Summary

Weather Forecast

Monday: A mix of sun and cloud. Low -14 C, High -9 C. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 35 km/h.

Tuesday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Low -14 C, High -9 C. Ridge wind west: 20-40 km/h.

Wednesday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Low -16 °C, High -11 °C. Wind west: 15 km/h gusting to 55 km/h.

Snowpack Summary

30cm of unconsolidated surface snow continues to settle. The alpine and wind prone treeline has seen moderate/strong winds promoting wind effect, wind slab formation and cornice growth. The midpack is supportive. Spotty surface hoar can be found down 30cm and 70cm in sheltered and shaded locations below treeline

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed on field patrol Sunday.

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Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Tuesday

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Previous and continued moderate westerly winds in the alpine and exposed treeline have redistributed the snow well down into the terrain.

  • Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.
  • Avoid steep convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

Use caution around thin to thick areas. Keep an eye out for surface hoar in isolated sheltered locations below treeline. A Dec weak layer exists in West facing alpine features and could be reactive to human traffic, wind loading and solar input.

  • Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain during periods of moderate to intense transport.
  • Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Jan 18th, 2021 4:00PM