Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 10th, 2023–Jan 11th, 2023

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

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.

Regions

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

Good riding can be found in sheltered terrain where snow hasn't been wind-affected.

Continue avoiding shallow rocky terrain where triggering deeper weak layers is most likely.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported in the region since the weekend. Please continue to post your observations and photos to the Mountain Information Network. It helps strengthen our data gathering.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 10 cm of recent snow has fallen over the weekend. Previous strong southerly winds have scoured alpine south-facing terrain and affected recent snow in open alpine features. A layer of surface hoar may still exist under the recent storm snow in northerly treeline features.

In sheltered terrain, 40 to 50 cm of low-density snow sits over a crust formed in late December. This crust varies in thickness throughout the terrain and elevation. Small avalanches could potentially run down on this layer, creating larger-than-expected avalanches. Uncertainty remains about the robustness of this crust at high elevations.

There is a widespread layer of facets and depth hoar at the bottom of the snowpack, which remains a concern for triggering with large loads or on thin spots. Snowpack depths around treeline are about 150 cm deep. The snowpack below treeline is very shallow and faceted.

Weather Summary

Overcast skies and dry conditions are expected until a deeper system will push into the region early Thursday. Moderate snowfalls and rising freezing levels will last until Saturday.

Tuesday night

Partly cloudy, no precipitation, light southerly winds, freezing levels around 1200 m, low of -5C at treeline.

Wednesday

Increasing cloudiness, no precipitation, light southeasterly winds increasing to moderate, freezing levels around 1200 m, high of -3C at treeline.

Thursday

Snow 10-15 cm, rain at lower elevations, moderate southeasterly winds gusting to 50 km/h at ridge tops, freezing levels rising to 1600 m, high of 0C at treeline.

Friday

Snow 10-15 cm, rain at lower elevations, moderate southeasterly winds gusting to 50 km/h at ridge tops, freezing levels rising to 1800 m, high of +1C at treeline.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
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.