Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 9th, 2023–Jan 10th, 2023

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.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Cariboos, North Rockies, Clearwater, McBride, Quesnel, Sugarbowl, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson, Tumbler.

Avoid rocky or wind loaded features where the snowpack varies from thick to to thin. This is where both wind slabs and buried weak layers can most likely triggered.

Read the latest forecaster blog for more information on managing buried weak layers.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new reports since Friday, when a natural size 1.5 wind slab was reported on a west facing slope in the Cariboos.

No recent avalanche activity has been reported on the persistent weak layers in the region. However, spooky snowpack test results continue to support a conservative approach to terrain.

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

Snowpack Summary

A dusting of snow may sit over firm surfaces and wind slabs in wind-exposed terrain features. Elsewhere, 30 to 60 cm of settled snow sits over a generally weak, facetted snowpack with multiple buried weak layers.

Two layers of greatest concern:

A layer of facets, crust and surface hoar that was buried around Christmas and found around 30 to 60 cm deep.
A layer of large, weak facets buried in November and found near the bottom of the snowpack. This layer is likely most problematic in alpine terrain, where shallower avalanches could scrub down to these basal facets. These layers may persist for some time, as described in our Forecasters' blog.

Snowpack depths are roughly 100 to 175 cm at treeline.

Weather Summary

Monday night

A trace of new snow. Light southwest wind. Alpine low of -8 °C.

Tuesday

Cloudy with sunny breaks and flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow to the North Rockies. Light to moderate southerly winds. Alpine highs of -4 °C.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny. Light southerly winds increasing to moderate. Alpine high of -3 °C.

Thursday

Flurries. Strong southerly winds. Alpine high of -2 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
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.

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.