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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 2nd, 2023–Jan 3rd, 2023

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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Coast Inland, Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, Stein, Taseko.

An atypical coastal snowpack has created a tricky-moderate danger rating.

Avoid wind-loaded areas at upper elevations. If triggered, buried weak layers in the mid to lower snowpack can produce large destructive avalanches.

Be really mindful of the terrain you choose until the snowpack "normalizes."

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches reported in the last 24 hours. However, there have been many reports of people coming across debris from slightly older avalanches.

Please continue to post your observations and photos to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Strong southwest winds have likely created hard wind-affected surfaces in open areas, and wind slabs in lee terrain features. The top layer of snow that fell near the end of last week overlies a rain crust that formed earlier in the week. This crust is thin at higher elevations and up to 5 cm thick below treeline.

In the mid-snowpack, a weak layer of surface hoar has been observed down 80 to 100 cm, this layer is most prevalent in shaded and sheltered areas.

The lower snowpack consists of weak, sugary crystals of facets and depth hoar.

Snowpack depths remain highly variable, roughly 50 to 200 cm at treeline.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Mostly clear, no accumulation, winds south 15 to 30 km/h, temperatures -5 to -3 °C at 1500 m.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud, trace accumulation, winds southwest 10 to 25 km/h, temperatures -10 to -5 °C at 2000 m.

Wednesday

A mix of sun and cloud, winds southeast 15 km/h, temperatures -7 °C at 2000 m.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy, up to 5 cm accumulation, winds southeast 15 to 25 km/h, temperatures -5 °C at 2000m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
  • Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rock outcroppings and steep convex terrain where triggering is most likely.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.

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.