Avalanche Forecast
South Coast Inland
New snowfall may not bond well to underlying snow surfaces. Expect old and new wind slabs on all aspects at higher elevations, loose dry snow in sheltered areas, and looming cornices on ridgelines.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind-loaded snow.
- Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
- Sheltered slopes at lower elevations will offer the best riding.
Avalanche Problem 2: Cornices
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Large cornices linger along ridgelines. They are unstable, unpredictable, and demand respect.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Watch out for overhead hazards, such as cornices, which could easily trigger slabs on slopes below.
- Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche observations were noted on Wednesday. On Tuesday, several natural loose dry avalanches up to size 1 were reported from steep south facing rocky terrain.
Wind slabs are becoming more stubborn to trigger but remain the primary avalanche concern for the region. Respect overhead hazards, such as cornices.
Snowpack Summary
New storm snow will fall on highly variable and wind-affected snow surfaces. In exposed terrain, new snow will fall on scoured north facing slopes and wind-loaded south facing slopes. In sheltered terrain, new snow will fall on last weekend’s storm snow. The new snow may not bond well to these surfaces and could be reactive to both natural and human triggers.
Deeper in the snowpack in southern parts of the region, recent snow sits above a widespread crust. Below the crust, well-consolidated snow exists.
Avalanche professionals are still monitoring the mid-January crust and are avoiding shallow rocky slopes where triggering this layer is most likely. This layer is now 80-150 cm deep, but a heavy trigger (such as a cornice fall) or the next major storm (loading and/or warming) could wake this layer up.
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 15 cm, strong southwesterly winds, alpine temperature -12 C, freezing level below valley bottom.
SATURDAY: Cloudy with early-morning snowfall then clearing to partly cloudy, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, light northwesterly winds, alpine temperature -10 C, freezing level near 500 m.
SUNDAY: Cloudy with early-morning snowfall, accumulation 5 to 15 cm, moderate to strong westerly winds, alpine temperature -7 C, freezing level near 700 m.
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New snow with strong southwesterly wind will produce fresh wind slabs in lee features. These sit on wind slabs formed during last weekend’s storm. Watch for signs of avalanche activity and locally unstable snow.