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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 19th, 2024–Jan 20th, 2024

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

Regions

South Coast, Powell River, Tantalus, North Shore, Sky Pilot, Tetrahedron.

Rain has impacted an unusually cold and dry snowpack. Take a cautious approach and avoid terrain traps such as gullies and cliffs where the consequence of any avalanche could be serious.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A widespread natural avalanche cycle occurred on Friday with heavy loading from snow, rain and wind.

Looking forward to Saturday, the avalanche problem will likely present as wet loose avalanches in steep terrain. In the higher peaks, dry storm snow may exist in alpine areas, and reactive wind slabs may be found in wind-loaded terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Rain has impacted the snowpack to mountain top in the North Shore Mountains. In the higher mountains (e.g. Tantalus Range, Sky Pilot) 30 to 50 cm of dry storm snow may exist in the alpine and has likely been redistributed by strong southerly winds.

A crust with softer snow overlying it exists down 40 to 60 cm. The remainder of the mid and lower snowpack is generally settled and well-bonded.

Check out Friday's North Shore Snowpack Update for a deeper dive into the snowpack.

Weather Summary

Friday night

Mainly cloudy with light rain. Alpine wind 30 to 50 km/h from the south. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Saturday

Mainly cloudy with sunny periods and isolated showers. Alpine winds light and variable. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with mixed precipitation, 5 to 15 cm of new snow accumulation at higher elevations. Alpine wind southeast 30 to 50 km/h. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Monday

Cloudy with mixed precipitation, 5 to 10 cm of new snow accumulation at higher elevations. Alpine wind southeast 30 to 50 km/h. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Keep in mind that wet avalanches can be destructive due to their high density.
  • Keep in mind the crust offers an excellent bed surface for avalanches.
  • Avoid lee and cross loaded slopes in the alpine.

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

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.