Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 24th, 2024–Jan 25th, 2024

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

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 unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Garibaldi, Tantalus, Sky Pilot.

Avoid Avalanche terrain in the alpine and treeline.

Storm snow and wind will form touchy slabs throughout the day.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Observations are limited but we suspect that storm slab activity will continue at higher elevations and wet loose avalanches will remain possible at lower elevations.

Snowpack Summary

Daily fluctuations in freezing level and ongoing precipitation have resulted in a snowpack that varies greatly with elevation. In alpine terrain much of the recent precipitation may have fallen as snow, Below treeline it has been rain. In the middle a crust or heavy moist snow will likely be found.

The mid and lower snow pack are well settled and not concerning.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with 15 to 25 mm of mixed precipitation expected, southeast alpine wind 30 to 40 km/h, freezing level around 1200 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with 15 to 25 of mixed precipitation expected, south alpine wind 25 to 40 km/h, freezing level rising to 1400 m.

Friday

Cloudy with up to 40 mm of mixed precipitation expected, southeast alpine wind 25 to 45 km/h, freezing level rising to 2000 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with up to 60 mm of rain expected, south alpine wind 30 to 50 km/h, freezing level rising to 2400 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Choose conservative terrain and watch for clues of instability.
A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.