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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 13th, 2025–Jan 14th, 2025

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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Coquihalla, Harrison-Fraser, Manning, Skagit.

Avoid steep, rocky, wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.

Minimize exposure to overhead hazards when solar radiation is strong.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday, a size 1 skier-triggered wind slab avalanche was reported on a treeline feature on Zoa Peak.

The most notable activity in the past week has been large glide slab avalanches. Glide slabs are hard to forecast. If you see a glide crack, simply avoid being under it.

If you are headed into the backcountry please consider making a MIN post with photos and observations from the day. The information is very helpful for forecasters!

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15 cm of snow overlies a thin surface crust everywhere except northerly slopes in the alpine. In exposed areas westerly winds have built wind slabs on lee slopes.

A substantial crust up to 30 cm thick sits 50 to 90 cm deep, well-bonded to surrounding snow. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well consolidated.

Treeline snow depths range from roughly 150 to 220 cm around the Coquihalla and 100 to 150 cm around Manning Park.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Mostly clear skies. 15 to 25 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. An above freezing layer persists between 1700 and 2700 m.

Tuesday

Mainly sunny. 25 to 35 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. An above freezing layer persists between 1700 and 2700 m.

Wednesday

A mix of sun and cloud. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level above mountain tops.

Thursday

Mainly cloudy with light flurries. 3 to 7 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level drops to the valley bottom.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, or recent avalanches.
  • Limit exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Rocks will heat up with daytime warming and may become trigger points for loose wet 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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.