Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 4th, 2024 2:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada matt, Avalanche Canada

Email

This is a good time to remind folks that "low" hazard doesn't mean "no" hazard. Low still allows for small avalanches, or even large anomalous avalanches. Due diligence and caution is still important.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new observed in the last couple of days.

Snowpack Summary

Four flakes fell today which brings our weekly flake total to 12. Doesn't sound like much, but in relative terms that's huge! Unfortunately those 12 flakes haven't been enough to change anything in our snowpack. We're still dealing with lots of exposed rock/gravel and intermittent hard slab in the alpine, followed by old isolated windslabs at treeline with a poor base of depth hoar and facets. The midpack crust is still there holding it all together, which is a good thing. Valley bottom hasn't seen any change either. It's all loose facets with remnants of a once strong crust.

Weather Summary

Bit of a chilly start to the day tomorrow. -13 in the morning and rising to -10 as a high. We are expecting 3cm of snow overnight! might need those new goggles you got for Christmas! Winds will be light from the Southwest, with the occasional gust near ridges or summits.

In some forecasts there is a hint of snow by the 7th. We may get 10cm if we're lucky, which could really help our general snow situation.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs

This problem will be with us all season. At higher elevations there is more concern that these deep persistent weak layers could be human triggerable.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Valid until: Jan 5th, 2024 4:00PM