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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 15th, 2020–Jan 16th, 2020

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Glacier.

Frostbite and Hypothermia are real concerns with current temperatures, travel and dress accordingly.

Weather Forecast

Mainly cloudy with flurries today. Temperatures are forecast to reach -19, winds are currently moderate in the Valley, but lighter at high elevations. Hoping some warm air will push out the cold tonight, bringing with it 10-15cm of new snow, as a Low-Pressure system pushes through from the Pacific.

Snowpack Summary

Recent winds from all directions have likely built fresh wind slabs in immediate lees. Faceting and cold temps have given surface snow a chalk-like feel underfoot. Recent snowfall has settled to around 80cm over the Dec 27th surface hoar or crust depending on aspect and elevation. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and strong.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed in the Highway Corridor, or reported from the Backcountry yesterday. On Monday Mannix avalanche path in the Highway Corridor released naturally yesterday, size 3 terminating halfway down the fan, dusting the Highway.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.