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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Jan 3rd, 2023–Jan 4th, 2023
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Boundary, Kootenay Pass, Moyie, Norns, Rossland, South Okanagan, St. Mary, Ymir.

Skiers and riders are still able to trigger buried weak layers, potentially resulting in large avalanches. Keep up the discipline and make conservative terrain choices.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Several avalanches were triggered by explosives on Monday, releasing on the weak layers described in the Snowpack Summary. They all occurred between 2100 and 2200 m, on all aspects, and were mostly between 80 and 150 cm deep. The results show us that these layers are still a concern and, if triggered, could produce large avalanches with a high consequence.

Snowpack Summary

Around 30 to 40 cm of snow overlies a hard melt-freeze crust that extends up to 2000 m. Moist snow or a surface crust may be found below treeline and on steep sun-exposed slopes to ridge top.

Buried weak layers continue to show signs of instability. The two prominent layers of concern are a 60 to 80 cm deep layer of surface hoar and a crust on south aspects that was buried in mid-December and an 80 to 150 cm deep layer of surface hoar and facets that was buried in mid-November.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Mix of clouds and clear periods, trace of new snow, 20 km/h west wind, treeline temperature -10 °C.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and cloud, trace of new snow, 15 km/h southerly wind, treeline temperature -7 °C.

Thursday

Cloudy with up to 5 cm new snow, 30-40 km/h southeast wind, treeline temperature -4 °C.

Friday

Cloudy, 5-10 cm new snow, 30-40 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Choose conservative terrain and watch for clues of instability.
  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
  • Remote triggering is a concern, avoid terrain where triggering slopes from below is possible
  • Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slabs

Multiple buried weak layers continue to produce large avalanches that propagate across terrain features. The layers are mostly composed of surface hoar and facet layers found between 60 and 150 cm deep. Most activity to date has occurred between 1800 and 2200 m.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 2 - 3