Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 15th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
dnylen,
Avalanche Canada
Old wind slabs remain reactive to riders especially where they are sitting on a crust or a weak layer.
Seek out areas with soft snow on the surface that are sheltered from the wind.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
North winds early last week have driven a natural windslab cycle in mostly south facing terrain. Avalanches averaged between size 1-2 with only a few size 2.5 avalanches reported. Ski cuts are still producing small wind slabs in isolated terrain at treeline and alpine elevations.
Check out this MIN for more details.
Avalanche activity has tapered off and no new avalanches have been reported over the weekend.
Snowpack Summary
Last week's strong northerly winds created wind slabs in exposed areas at treeline and above on south and westerly faces.
10-20 cm of snow fell in the region last week. This snow sits on a crust up to 1400 m - 1900 m. In areas east of Quesnel and Williams Lake, reports say there is also a weak layer of surface hoar with the crust.
Two more layers of surface hoar may be found buried between 90 and 150 cm at treeline. The likelihood of triggering these layers is low, but is most likely in shallow rocky areas at upper treeline.
The current snowpack is shallow and variable in structure throughout the region.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy with up to 3 cm of snow, west alpine wind 20-40 km/h, treeline temperature high -22 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow, variable alpine wind 20-30 km/h, treeline temperature -16 °C.
Wednesday
Partly cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow, east alpine wind 10-40 km/h, gusting 60 km/h, treeline temperature -18 °C.
Thursday
Mostly sunny, with no new snow, east alpine wind 10-30 km/h, treeline temperature high -18 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
- The best and safest riding will be on slopes that have soft snow without any slab properties.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Recent winds have built slabs at and below ridgetops in atypical areas. These slabs are likely to be more reactive where they overlie a weak layer of surface hoar and/or a crust.
Aspects: North East, East, South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 16th, 2024 4:00PM
