Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 2nd, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
lbaker,
Avalanche Canada
Use caution around wind-loaded areas at upper elevations, where wind slabs have formed over a crust.
Though natural avalanche activity has tapered off human triggering remains possible.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported throughout the weekend. On Friday a size 1.5 skier remote storm slab avalanche was reported. This slab was 25 cm deep and released on a steep northeast slope at 1400m. Several other avalanches like this one were reported to have occurred on Friday. triggers included ski cuts and naturals. Check out this MIN from Mt Washington.
Continue to support your backcountry community and please consider submitting a MIN report.
Snowpack Summary
30 to 40cm of recent storm snow is settling over a melt-freeze crust above 1000 m. A thin layer of facets could exist around this interface. Strong southerly winds have redistributed available snow into deep wind slabs on north and east aspects and cross-loading on others. Below 1000m the snow surface could still be moist.
Terrain below treeline has limited or no coverage.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, 1-5 mm accumulation. Ridgetop winds southerly 20 gusting 30 km/h. A low of -3 at 1100m. Freezing levels 1000m.
Tuesday
Cloudy with isolated flurries, 2-7 mm accumulation. Ridgetop winds southerly 20 gusting to 30 km/h. A high of -1 at 1100m. Freezing levels drop to 700 m.
Wednesday
Mainly cloudy with light flurries, trace accumulation. Ridgetop winds southerly 30-50 km/h. A high of +1 at 1100m. Freezing levels rise to 1500m.
Thursday
Cloudy with flurries, 5-10 mm accumulation. Ridgetop winds southerly 30-50 km/h. A high of 0 at 1100m. Freezing levels 1500m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
- Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- The best and safest riding will be on slopes that have soft snow without any slab properties.
- Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Moderate southerly winds have redistributed 20 - 40 cm of available snow into deep pockets in lees. Wind slabs overlie a crust and may be reactive to human triggering.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 3rd, 2023 4:00PM
