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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 24th, 2020–Jan 25th, 2020

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Coast.

The snowpack is recovering from the latest input of moist snow and rain. Be cautious around steep, convex terrain and freshly loaded features.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to difficult to forecast freezing levels.

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY NIGHT: Wet flurries, 5-10 cm. Alpine low temperature 0 C. South wind, 25-45 km/hr. Freezing level 1200 m.

SATURDAY: Wet flurries, 10 cm. Alpine high temperature +2 C. Southeast wind 25-45 km/hr. Freezing level 1400 m.

SUNDAY: Snow and rain, 20-30 cm. Alpine low temperature 0 C. South wind 35-55 km/hr. Freezing level 1500 m.

MONDAY: Flurries, up to 10 cm. Alpine low temperature -1 C. Southwest wind 20 gusting to 45 km/hr. Freezing level 1200 m.

Avalanche Summary

A few small (size 1) wet-loose avalanches were observed on Thursday morning as the rain event began. 

Snowpack Summary

Wet snow has accumulated at higher elevations and where dry snow prevailed (at the highest elevations), winds have scoured and redistributed the new snow developing slabs and building cornices. Rain and warm temperatures have promoted settlement in the upper snowpack and moist surface snow up to 1900 m. At lower elevations, rain saturated the snowpack.

Rain earlier in the week created a strong and settled snowpack, which is now 250-300 cm deep around the peaks of the North Shore mountains.

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid terrain traps such as gullies and cliffs where the consequence of any avalanche could be serious.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.