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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 4th, 2025–Jan 5th, 2025

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

Regions

Kootenay Boundary, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, Ymir.

Expect to find new windslabs that will remain reactive to rider triggering.

Choose low-consequence terrain and watch for signs of instability.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Friday near Nelson as winds began transporting light snow, numerous small (size 1 to 1.5) wind slabs where triggered naturally, via ski cut and a few rider triggered. They occurred on all aspects with the exception of east and near the 2000 m elevation.

On Wednesday 2 large (size 2 to 2.5) persistent slab avalanches where rider triggered, both on a north aspect at approximately 2200 m. One was near Nelson, the other Rossland. Review this MIN report link for further details

Snowpack Summary

In many areas strong winds have stripped and scoured open alpine and treeline features. Approximately 10 to 15 cm of light, dry surface snow has been transported. Windslabs have formed in lee aspect terrain. In sheltered areas, 30 to 50 cm of settling snow remains intact.

Below this recent snow, a thin crust is present below approximately 1600 m. Above 1600 m a layer of surface hoar is present and reactive to testing and rider traffic.

Weak layers of surface hoar or facets and a crust continue to persist in the mid-snowpack and can be found down between 50 and 120 cm.

The lower snowpack is generally strong and well-bonded.

Review this video on State of the snowpack for further details.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy with light snowfall 1 to 5 cm. 15 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Sunday

Cloudy with light snowfall 1 to 5 cm. 15 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Monday

Cloudy. 10 to 15 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Tuesday

Cloudy. 5 to 10 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a MIN report!

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to the wind; once it starts to blow, sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
  • Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.

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.