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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Jan 18th, 2025–Jan 19th, 2025
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for reactive wind slabs, especially in the alpine.

The new load may be the tipping point for deeper instabilities and bigger avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Riders near Telkwa were able to trigger a large wind slab avalanche on Friday. Get all the details here. Otherwise, reports have been limited in this region.

Reactive wind slabs may exist on northeast- and southeast-facing slopes. Natural activity may taper but the snowpack could be primed for human-triggered avalanches this weekend.

If you go into the backcountry please consider submitting to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

By Thursday, there was up to 20 cm of new snow. Strong southwest winds have likely redistributed the storm snow onto leeward slopes, building thicker wind slabs. Northwest winds may have also loaded southerly aspects and have a poor bond in areas (1200–1300 m) where it sits on a crust.

A persistent weak layer composed of facets overlying a crust is buried 50 to 100 cm deep and may be reactive with the new load from snow and wind.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Clear. 30 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Sunday

Mostly clear. 10 to 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8°C.

Monday

Partly cloudy. 30 gusting to 75 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9.

Tuesday

Cloudy with up to 5 cm. 40 to 50 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Choose low-angled, sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
  • Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Changing winds may leave stiffer and deeper deposits of snow on northeast- and southeast-facing slopes. Watch for steep convex rollovers, ridgetop entrances, and cross-loaded features.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

A widespread crust with weak facets overtop is buried 50 to 100 cm deep. While this layer exists on all aspects, it's most likely to be triggered at treeline and above and will produce large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1.5 - 3