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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 5th, 2024–Jan 6th, 2024

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

Cariboos, McBride, Quesnel, Sugarbowl.

Carefully assess and verify conditions. Observations in this region have been limited and we are uncertain of reactivity of weak layers in the mid and lower snowpack.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

No significant avalanches have been reported in the region in the past few days.

If you are out in the backcountry please consider filling out a MIN report.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15 cm of recent snow has likely formed wind slabs at upper elevations. A variety of surfaces are found below this new snow including surface hoar in sheltered terrain and a crust below 1600 m.

The mid-pack contains various noteworthy layers; including two surface hoar layers, one down roughly 20 to 40 cm and another down roughly 60 to 90 cm. Between the two surface hoar layers a crust may exist, primarily at lower elevations.

The current snowpack has considerable variation in structure and depths across the region but is generally facetted and weak.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of new snow expected, south alpine wind 25 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -6°C.

Saturday

Cloudy with a few centimeters of new snow expected, south alpine wind 15 to 25 km/h, treeline temperature -7°C.

Sunday

Mostly sunny with no new snow expected, west alpine wind 15 to 25 km/h, treeline temperature -10°C.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud with trace amounts of new snow expected, west alpine wind 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -11°C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.
  • Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices at this time.
  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.

Problems

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.

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.