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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 21st, 2024–Jan 22nd, 2024

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

Regions

South Coast Inland, Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, Stein, Taseko.

Wind slabs continue to linger in steep alpine terrain. Pay attention as new snow on Monday begins to accumulate over a wide-spread crust.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A couple of skier-triggered avalanches surprised a ski touring group on Saturday. Both avalanches were reported as size 2 and occurred on a northeast, alpine slopes just below a rocky ridge top.

If you go out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Snowpack Summary

On the surface is a recently formed melt-freeze crust, observed up to 2000 m, and may exist higher by Monday morning. Roughly 10 to 20 cm of dry snow beneath the crust is settling over various, wind-affected surfaces created during the recent extreme cold period.

The mid and lower snowpack consists of various crusts and layers of facets or surface hoar. Reports indicate these are not currently a concern.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Cloudy with trace snow amounts, southwest alpine winds 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperatures -2 °C. Freezing levels around 1400 m.

Monday

Cloudy with 2 to 8 cm of snow, southwest alpine winds 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing levels around 1200 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with 2 to 8 cm of snow, southwest alpine winds 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -4 °C.

Wednesday

Cloudy with trace snow amounts, southwest alpine winds 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.
  • A crust on the surface will help bind the snow together, but may make for tough travel conditions.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.