Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 4th, 2023–Jan 5th, 2023

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

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.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Okanagan, Shuswap, North Okanagan.

Watch for wind slabs forming over the day as southerly winds increase. Small avalanches may step down to deeper weak layers in the snowpack.

Stay cautious of areas where the snowpack depth changes rapidly, such as thin and rocky start zones.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanche activity has been reported in the region. However, there have been several recent reports of large human-triggered avalanches in neighboring regions.

Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Roughly 30 to 50 cm of low-density snow overlies a generally weak, facetted snowpack with multiple buried weak layers. As southerly winds increase expect wind slabs to build in north facing terrain. New wind slabs may sit over a layer of reactive surface hoar and or crust.

A layer large and weak facets sits in the bottom of the snowpack, buried in November.

Snowpack depth is roughly 150 cm at treeline.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Some cloud with strong southerly winds developing. No snowfall expected. Freezing levels below valley bottom.

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud, with flurries bringing trace amounts of snow. Moderate to strong southeast winds. Freezing level rises to 500 m, alpine high of -4 °C.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with scattered flurries. Moderate southwest winds. Freezing levels rise to 600 m. Alpine high of -3 °C.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with scattered flurries. Moderate southwest winds. Freezing levels rise to 600 m. Alpine high of -3 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.

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.

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.