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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 28th, 2020–Jan 29th, 2020

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

Regions

South Columbia.

Storm slabs may be reactive to human triggering, especially in wind loaded areas at upper elevations. Watch for signs of instability such as whumphing, cracking and recent avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY NIGHT - Cloudy with clear periods / southwest wind, 20-30 km/h / alpine low temperature near -8

WEDNESDAY - Flurries, 10-15 cm / southwest wind, 40-60 km/h / alpine high temperature near -6 / freezing level 1000 m

THURSDAY - Flurries, 5-10 cm / southwest wind, 40-60 km/h / alpine high temperature near -4 / freezing level 1000 m

FRIDAY - Snow 10-20 cm / southwest wind, 50-80 km/h / alpine high temperature near -1 / freezing level 1700 m

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity is expected to increase on Wednesday with fresh snow and strong winds forming storm slabs that may become increasingly reactive throughout the day.

On Monday there were several reports of natural and human triggered storm and wind slab avalanches, mostly on north aspects around treeline, and mainly size 1-2, with one size 3 glide slab reported.

Over the past week there has been widespread avalanche activity, with the bulk of it occurring on Friday and Saturday. There have been reports of many natural, human and explosives triggered avalanches up to size 3 since Thursday. Avalanche activity began to taper off on Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

Wednesday is set to bring 10-15 cm of new snow and strong southwest winds. Fresh storm slabs will be forming throughout the day.

Recent rain at lower elevations means that the new snow may fall on either a melt-freeze crust, or wet snow below about 1500 m

There is a weak layer of surface hoar that is down about 90-130 cm deep in the Selkirks and 120-160 cm deep in the Monashees and exists primarily at treeline and below treeline. This layer has not produced any recent avalanches in the region. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for changing conditions today, storm slabs may become increasingly reactive.
  • Avoid freshly wind loaded terrain features.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.