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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Jan 7th, 2024–Jan 8th, 2024
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
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
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
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

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

Allow the recent snow some time to settle before pushing into larger, more challenging terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous large storm and wind slab avalanches were reported on Saturday. Several were skier-triggered, including a size 2.5 near Nelson that resulted in serious injury.

Snowpack Summary

Approximately 20 to 40 cm of recent snow has buried a variety of old layers including crusts, wind-affected snow, and powder.

The middle of the snowpack contains several crusts buried 50 to 70 cm deep. Facets have been seen above the crusts near Kokanee and Valhalla.

Deeper in the snowpack a thick crust exists and is largely protecting a couple of surface hoar layers near the bottom of the snowpack from being triggered. If the crust doesn't exist be sure to investigate these layers.

Snowpack depth at treeline is 100 to 150 cm.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Mostly cloudy with trace snow amounts, west alpine winds 10 to 20 km/h, treeline temperature -10 °C.

Monday

Partly cloudy with trace snow amounts, southwest alpine winds 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -12 °C.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with 10 to 30 cm of snow, southwest alpine winds 40 to 60 km/h, treeline temperature -8 °C.

Wednesday

Partly cloudy with trace snow amounts, northwest alpine winds 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -12 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Give the new snow time to settle and stabilize before pushing into bigger terrain.
  • Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
  • Shooting cracks, whumphs and recent avalanches are strong indicators of an unstable snowpack.

Avalanche Problems

Storm Slabs

Recent snow and wind has created both storm and wind slabs that may remain most reactive where sitting atop weak surface hoar crystals.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5