Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 13th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Dry.
JH,
Avalanche Canada
Overnight low temps in the -30s and short days greatly increase the risk associated with venturing in to the backcountry.
Be extra conservative when choosing an objective, and leave yourself lots of extra time by executing your exit plan early.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
A size 1.5 slab avalanche was observed Friday, from the South facing slope between Grizzly and Little Sifton.
Thursday morning, there was a natural size 3 slab avalanche in the NE facing start zone of the Crossover avalanche path (Mt MacDonald). The debris ran full path, stopping in the creek at valley bottom.
There were several natural and human triggered avalanches early in the week, failing in the new snow - see MINs for Video Peak and Forever Young.
Snowpack Summary
Moderate winds (S/SW switching to N/NE) have redistributed 40-50cms of recent storm snow. This sits on: a sun crust on solar aspects; firm wind effect in the alpine; and soft facetted snow on sheltered N aspects.
Below 2100m there is a crust down 70-80cm (from Dec 5th/6th).
The Dec 1 surface hoar layer is down 90-120cm and is decomposing. However, it is still reactive in isolated snowpack tests.
Weather Summary
Temps will gradually moderate as the cold arctic ridge slowly retreats Eastward.
Tonight: Mostly clear. Alpine low -31°C. Light East ridge wind.
Sunday: Mixed sun and cloud. Alpine High -20°C. Light NE wind.
Mon: Cloudy periods. Low -21°C, High -16°C. Light W wind.
Tues: Flurries (6cm). Low -17°C, High -12°C. Light SW wind.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
- Be carefull with sluffing in steep terrain, especially above cliffs and terrain traps.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Moderate Southerly winds came with the storm, and then switched to downflowing N/NE winds as the cold air moved in. Watch for windslabs in unusual places, and lower on the slope than what is typical. Windslabs may step down deeper on solar slopes with a buried crust.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
Watch for increased sluffing in steep terrain, as faceting from cold temps continues to weaken the upper snowpack.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 14th, 2024 4:00PM
