Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 20th, 2019–Jan 21st, 2019

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 possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Sea To Sky.

Moderate danger means that it is possible for humans to trigger avalanches in specific areas. Use caution in wind-affected terrain, where wind slabs may still be reactive.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY NIGHT: Clear skies, freezing level below valley bottom.MONDAY: Clear skies, light northwest winds, alpine temperature -9 C, freezing level below valley bottom.TUESDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, light to moderate southwest winds, alpine temperature -6 C, freezing level 700 m.WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall then clearing, accumulation 10 cm, moderate southwest winds, alpine temperature -4 C, freezing level 1100 m.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity quieted down on Sunday, with a few small (size 1) wind slabs in lee features at treeline and in the alpine from explosives. On Friday and Saturday, many small to large (size 1 to 2) slab avalanches within the storm snow were triggered naturally, by skiers, and with explosives. For examples, check out the MIN reports here and here.

Snowpack Summary

Around 20 to 30 cm of recent snow was redistributed from extreme south winds. Expect to find extensive wind effect in exposed terrain at all elevation bands. The snow may sit on a sun crust on south aspects, a temperature crust below 1700 m on all aspects, feathery surface hoar in sheltered and shaded areas, and sugary faceted snow elsewhere. The recent snow may not bond well to these layers.Below this, the snowpack is generally well-settled.

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.