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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 25th, 2023–Jan 26th, 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

Coquihalla, Harrison-Fraser, Manning, Skagit.

Northerly winds increase Thursday and redistribute storm snow into fresh wind slabs. Seek out sheltered terrain where snow has not been wind affected to find the best riding.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, several, size 1, natural loose dry avalanches were reported from within the storm snow.

Thank you for all the MINs, please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

20-35 cm of settling snow at alpine and treeline overlies old wind slabs in wind-exposed areas. 30-50 cm of snow covers a thick supportive crust found below 2000 m.

Generally, the snowpack is well-settled. Weak layers exist within the mid and lower snowpack but the thick crusts sitting above them make triggering avalanches on these layers unlikely.

Snowpack depths are roughly 150 cm at treeline and taper rapidly below 1500 m.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy with clear periods. Northwesterly ridge top winds 15 km/h. 1500m temperature low of -2C. The above freezing layer is present from 1500 - 2500 m tonight.

Thursday

Mainly cloudy. Light northwesterly winds occasionally gusting to 50 km/h. 1500m temperature high of -1C. The above freezing layer between 1500-2500m dissipates in the afternoon and freezing levels fall to 800 m overnight.

Overnight, cloudy with scattered flurries, 5-10 cm accumulation.

Friday

Mix of sun and cloud. Light northwesterly winds occasionally gusting to 30 km/h. 1500m temperature high of -4C. Freezing levels of 1200 m.

Saturday

Sunny with cloudy periods. Light northeasterly winds occasionally gusting to 40 km/h. 1500m temperature high -4C. Freezing levels of 500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to the wind, once it starts to blow fresh sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
  • Seek out wind sheltered terrain below treeline where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.

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.