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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 2nd, 2025–Jan 3rd, 2025

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

Badshot-Battle, Goat, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla.

Uncertainty around the reactivity of deeper weak layers is best managed with low-consequence terrain choices and good travel habits.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Large natural and human-triggered persistent slab avalanches continue to occur sporadically on the weak layer buried in early December. This problem is starting to improve but deserves patience and continued vigilance. Watch this recent State of the Snowpack video for more details.

Snowpack Summary

Expect to find 20 to 50 cm of settling snow in sheltered areas and pockets of wind slabs in exposed areas at upper elevations. On sun-affected slopes, soft snow covers a melt-freeze crust.

A concerning layer of facets, crusts, and/or surface hoar is buried 60 to 110 cm. It will most likely be a problem on north through east aspects between 1700 and 2300 m.

Treeline snow depths range from 100 to 180 cm.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Mostly cloud with up to 4 cm of new snow. 5 to 25 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Friday

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of new snow. 10 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of new snow. 20 to 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Sunday

Cloudy with 2 to 15 cm of new snow. 15 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • In times of uncertainty, conservative terrain choices are our best defense.
  • Pay attention to the wind; once it starts to blow, sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

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.