Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 30th, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
TRettie,
Avalanche Canada
Avoid terrain traps and other features that could make being caught in a small avalanche more consequential. Wind slabs will likely be limited in size but sensitive to rider traffic.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate -
Weather Forecast
Sunday night: no new snow expected. Light to moderate winds from the northwest with a low of -10 at 1600m.
Monday: some light flurries in the afternoon with moderate northwest winds. High of -6 at 1600m.
Tuesday: light flurries throughout the day. Moderate southeast winds with a high of -14 at 1600m.
Wednesday: up to 5cm of new snow with moderate south winds. High of -12 at 1600m.
Avalanche Summary
One skier triggered size 1 storm slab was reported on Saturday. This avalanche was on a east aspect at 1500m.
Snowpack Summary
Thin wind slab has formed over a variety of surfaces including facets, surface hoar and old wind slab. The new snow will likely not bond well to these surfaces. In the southern part of the region it is possible to find a rain crust up to 1500m.
Below this we have two persistent weak layers, the first is a surface hoar layer from mid January buried down approximately 30cm. The second is a layer of facets from early January which is now down 50 to 80cm, it has been most reactive where wind slab has formed above it and will now likely require a large load to trigger.
Terrain and Travel
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Avoid terrain traps where the consequence of any avalanche could be serious.
Problems
Wind Slabs
New wind slabs will likely be limited in size but reactive due to the surfaces they are forming on. Avoid features where even a small avalanche could be consequential.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
The mid January surface hoar layer is a developing problem that could start to produce more avalanches in the future. Use extra caution in sheltered terrain at treeline where preserved surface hoar is more likely to exist.
The early January facet layer is now down as deep as 80cm and might require a large load such as a cornice fall or a smaller avalanche in the layers above in order to be triggered. This problem is likely most concerning on high north and east facing terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 31st, 2022 4:00PM
