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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 25th, 2024–Jan 26th, 2024

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Sea To Sky, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Spearhead.

Choose conservative terrain in the alpine and give the storm snow time to bond. Storm slabs will be most reactive on high north facing terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday a skier triggered a size 1 wind slab on a north facing roll in the alpine.

Snowpack Summary

20 to 50 cm of recent storm  snow has been redistributed into wind slabs by southerly winds. This snow overlies a thick crust on all aspects and at all elevations. At lower elevations moist snow is likely found.

The mid and lower snowpack consists of various old crusts and is generally well-settled and well-bonded.

 

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Mostly cloudy with around 5 cm of new snow expected, south alpine wind 30 to 50 km/h, freezing level around 1200 m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with 5 to 10 mm of mixed precipitation expected, south alpine wind 30 to 50 km/h, freezing level rising to 1800 m.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with up to 10 mm of mixed precipitation expected, south alpine wind 40 to 70 km/h, freezing level rising to 2400 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with up to 20 mm of rain expected, south alpine wind 50 to 70 km/h, freezing level rising  to 2500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.