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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 7th, 2025–Jan 8th, 2025

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

Regions

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

Large human triggered avalanches are possible.

Evidence of a persistent weak layer may be hard to find. Conservative terrain choice is the best way to avoid this avalanche problem.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Monday, avalanche reports were limited to small, loose dry avalanches on slopes in the sun.

The persistent avalanche problem is slowly improving but deserves patience and continued vigilance in conservative terrain choices. The most recent avalanches on this layer occurred on January 2 and 3 with large triggers.

Snowpack Summary

A thin crust overlies 20 to 30 cm of soft snow in most areas. This sits on a layer of surface hoar in isolated locations and a crust on sun-affected slopes.

A persistent weak layer that consists of a crust with overlying facets and/or surface hoar is buried 90 to 120 cm. This layer is widespread but trending to unreactive. It is most likely to be problematic on north through east-facing slopes between 1700 and 2300 m.

At treeline, snow depths range from 100 to 180 cm.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Partly clear with up to 3 cm of snow. 10 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy with up to 3 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Thursday

Sunny. 5 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Possible temperature inversion. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with 10-15 cm of snow. 15 to 25 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Carefully evaluate big and steep terrain features before committing to them.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.

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.