Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 8th, 2023–Jan 9th, 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

Cariboos, North Rockies, Clearwater, McBride, Quesnel, Sugarbowl, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson, Tumbler.

Avoid rocky or wind loaded features where the snowpack varies from thick to to thin. This is where buried weak layers can most likely triggered.

Read the latest forecaster blog for more information on managing buried weak layers.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new reports since Friday, when a natural size 1.5 wind slab was reported on a west facing slope in the Cariboos.

No recent avalanche activity has been reported on the persistent weak layers in the region. However, spooky snowpack test results continue to support a conservative approach to terrain.

Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Firm surfaces and wind slabs may exist in wind-exposed terrain features. Elsewhere, 30 to 60 cm of settled snow sits over a generally weak, facetted snowpack with multiple buried weak layers.

Two layers of greatest concern:

A layer of facets, crust and surface hoar that was buried around Christmas and found around 30 to 60 cm deep.
A layer of large, weak facets buried in November and found near the bottom of the snowpack. This layer is likely most problematic in alpine terrain, where shallower avalanches could scrub down to these basal facets. These layers may persist for some time, as described in our Forecasters' blog.

Snowpack depths are roughly 100 to 175 cm at treeline.

Weather Summary

Sunday night

Up to 5 cm of new snow in the Cariboos. Moderate southerly winds easing by morning. Alpine low of -6 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Monday

Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Light to moderate southerly wind. Alpine highs of -3. Freezing levels reach 1000 m in the south.

Tuesday

Flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow. Moderate southerly wind. Alpine high of -3. Freezing level 500-700 m.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny. Light southerly wind. Alpine high of -5. Freezing level valley bottom.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

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.

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.