Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 1st, 2019–Feb 2nd, 2019

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

North Columbia.

Rapid loading from heavy snowfall and wind is the perfect recipe for avalanches. Avoid avalanche terrain.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY NIGHT - Flurries, 5-15 cm / southwest winds, 30-50 km/h / alpine low temperature near -6SATURDAY - Cloudy with scattered flurries, 3-5 cm / southwest winds 20-30 km/h / alpine high temperature near -7SUNDAY - Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, 3-5 cm / northeast winds 10-15 km/h / alpine high temperature near -15MONDAY - Sunny with cloudy periods / northeast winds, 10-15 km/h / alpine high temperature near -16

Avalanche Summary

A widespread natural avalanche cycle was reported on Friday, as were numerous human triggered avalanches to size 1.5. Some of these were remote triggered (triggered from a distance).Numerous human triggered avalanches to size 2 were reported in the region on Thursday. Most of these were on northerly aspects at treeline. They reportedly failed on the persistent weak layer that was buried in mid January.On Tuesday and Wednesday, numerous natural and human triggered avalanches were reported on both north and south aspects at all elevation bands. It is likely that some of these occurred on the mid January persistent weak layer as well.Also on Tuesday, in the neighboring Glacier National Park region, a human triggered size 3 avalanche occurred on a steep southeast facing slope in the alpine. There is a detailed report on the Mountain Information Network here

Snowpack Summary

40-80 cm of snow has fallen in the North Columbia region since Thursday. This new snow sits on surface hoar (feathery crystals), facets (sugary snow), wind slabs and a crust on sun-exposed slopes.A persistent weak layer that was buried in mid January is now buried 50-100 cm. This layer consists primarily of surface hoar, however there is also a crust associated with it on sun-exposed slopes. This layer has been most reactive at treeline and below.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.