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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 22nd, 2024–Jan 23rd, 2024

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

Regions

Sea To Sky, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Spearhead.

New snow and southerly winds will continue to build wind slabs over a recently formed melt-freeze crust.

Expect deeper snow accumulations in coastal areas, with less as you move inland.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Several natural and explosive-triggered storm slab avalanches were reported on Saturday in alpine terrain, up to size 2.

At lower elevations, many loose wet avalanches occurred up to size 1, both natural and rider-triggered.

If you go out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Snowpack Summary

Light to moderate snowfall continues, gradually accumulating above a widespread melt-freeze crust found at all elevations. Recent warm temperatures have rapidly settled the snow and created moist, heavy surface conditions at lower elevations.

Below the crust is approximately 20 cm of upside-down snow sitting atop old wind-affected surfaces and faceted crystals from the recent period of extreme cold and outflow winds.

The mid and lower snowpack consists of various old crusts and is generally well-settled and well-bonded.

Weather Summary

As a series of smaller low-pressure systems move through the region this week, expect warmer and wetter conditions in the southwest around Squamish and generally becoming drier and colder as they move northeast, towards the Whistler area.

Monday Night

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow at higher elevations. Alpine wind southwest, 20 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow at higher elevations. Alpine wind southwest, 20 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 2 to 8 cm of snow at higher elevations. Alpine wind south, 30 to 50 km/h. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow at higher elevations. Alpine wind southwest, 30 to 50 km/h. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Carefully monitor the bond between the new snow and old surface.
  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.

Problems

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.