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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 24th, 2022–Jan 25th, 2022

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

South Coast Inland.

Soft, dry snow can still be found on shady, wind-sheltered aspects at upper elevations. Avalanche problems exist in specific terrain features. Check the distribution icons in the problems tab for details.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

The region now sits under a warm ridge of high pressure which is expected to persist through the week bringing sun and upper level above freezing layers (AFL).

Monday night: Clear, light NW wind, freezing levels around 1300 m. 

Tuesday: A mix of sun and cloud, moderate NW wind, freezing levels around 1000 m with a 2000-2500 m AFL. 

Wednesday: Sunny, light NW wind, freezing levels around 2100 m.

Thursday: Sunny, moderate SW wind, freezing levels around 2500 m.

Avalanche Summary

Recent avalanche activity has been limited to small loose wet out of steep solar aspects.

Over the weekend, evidence of natural wind slabs size 1.5-2.5 were observed in the south of the region, suspected to have run at the end of last week.

On Saturday a size 3 glide slab was observed at 2200 m in the north of the region. On Wednesday, a size 1.5 glide slab was observed at 1400 m in the Coquihalla area. Glide slabs are difficult to forecast but they are often a product of sustained warm weather, as melting snow lubricates between the ground and the snowpack.

Snowpack Summary

At upper elevations, moist surfaces or a thin crust can be found on steep solar aspects, while shady aspects hold dry snow - well preserved powder in wind sheltered areas and wind slab in exposed terrain.

Below 2100m, the widespread January 16 melt-freeze crust sits 15-30 cm deep, tapering with elevation. In the south of the region, this crust is one of many in the upper snowpack. There have also been reports of a layer of small surface hoar above the Jan 16 crust in the north of the region on polar aspects at treeline and in the alpine but this does not seem to be widespread. At lower elevations, the upper snowpack is moist or wet and may be capped with a breakable crust.

The early December crust/facet layer is now typically down 100-150 cm but may be as shallow as 60 cm and as deep as 200 cm with lots of variability through the region. The layer is most prominent between 1700 and 2100 m. The crust appears to be breaking down in the south of the region but remains a snowpack feature in the north. After showing no reactivity in the peak of the warming event on the weekend, we cautiously reclassify this layer as dormant for now.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.
  • Rocks will heat up with daytime warming and may become trigger points for loose wet avalanches
  • Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.

Problems

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.