Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 5th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wet Slabs and Wind Slabs.
trettie,
Avalanche Canada
Updated 7am: Assess surface snow for slab properties before committing to terrain. Any precipitation that falls as snow will likely form either wind slabs or wet slabs.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
One small ski cut was reported through the MIN. This avalanche was a small pocket of wind slab over a crust. It occurred on a southwest aspect at upper treeline.
Please continue to post your observations and photos to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
Rain and elevated freezing levels will result in moist snow at or near mountain tops. Any snow that accumulates at higher elevations will be heavily wind effected.
A crust from earlier this month is burried down 40cm at treeline and above.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Stormy with 30 to 50cm of new snow at mountain tops, Rain below treeline. Strong south winds and freezing levels falling to 1300m by early morning.
Friday
Stormy with 10 to 15cm of new snow at treeline, rain below. southerly winds increasing throughout the day to extreme by late afternoon. Freezing level rising to 1600m.
Saturday
Milder weather with 10 to 15cm of new snow at higher elevations. Light to moderate southeast winds and freezing level around 1400m.
Sunday
Cloudy with around 5cm of new snow expected at higher elevations. Moderate southeast winds and freezing levels rising to 1600m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Problems
Wet Slabs
Rain and elevated freezing levels will likely induce a wet loose avalanche cycle. These avalanches will likely be largest at treeline. Avoid terrain traps and any feature where a small avalanche could have big consequences.
Wet slab avalanches could occur at treeline where previous storm snow overlies a crust. These type of wet avalanches are more concerning then there loose counterpart.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
New wind slabs could form at upper treeline and alpine on west, north and east aspects. Strong winds mean that wind slab could be found further down slope than expected.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 6th, 2023 4:00PM
