Avalanche forecast

Northwest Coastal

Jan 21 – 22, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Keep your guard up if you venture into avalanche terrain. Wind slabs and buried weak layers remain sensitive to triggering.

Avoid exposure to large, open slopes - including overhead hazard.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Wind slabs likely remain reactive. Be especially cautious if you observe active wind transport of snow. Slabs may sit over surface hoar, increasing reactivity.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–3.5

    Large avalanches on this layer continue. It is most triggerable in areas where the snowpack thins (steep, rocky slopes), and on wind loaded north or east facing slopes.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

The buried weak layer from early December continues to show reactivity to remote triggering - a clear indication that the snowpack is unstable. Size 2-3 natural and remotely triggered avalanches have been reported daily since the storm. Several began as wind slabs before stepping down.

Activity appears to be concentrated on all aspects except west, at treeline and above. The snowpack is expected to remain primed for human triggering.

Snowpack Summary

Previous storm accumulations of up to 80 cm were heavily wind affected by variable winds in exposed areas. Some aspects are scoured back to hard surfaces, while others hold deep deposits of dense snow.

A layer of surface hoar, facets, or a thin crust is buried 30 to 60 cm deep at upper elevations. Reports suggest this layer is bonding well.

However, buried 100 to 200 cm deep is the current layer of concern - surface hoar, facets, and a crust. This layer produced large natural avalanches during the recent storm and continues to be sensitive to triggering.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Cloudy with trace amounts of snow. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Wednesday

Cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Thursday

Cloudy. 5 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Remote triggering is a concern; avoid terrain where triggering overhead slopes is possible.
  • Choose low-angled, sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.

Regions covered