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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 7th, 2022–Jan 8th, 2022

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

Snow that accumulated above 1200 m may remain reactive.

Confidence

High - Confidence is due to a stable weather pattern with little change expected.

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy with no precipitation, 40 km/h west wind, treeline temperature -7 C.

SATURDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 cm, 30 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -5 C.

SUNDAY: Early-morning snowfall then clear skies, accumulation 10 to 20 cm, 30 km/h south wind, treeline temperature 3 C, freezing level rising to 2300 m.

MONDAY: Cloudy with snow and rain, accumulation 10 to 20 cm above 1300 m and rain below, 40 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature 0 C.

Avalanche Summary

It is anticipated that an avalanche cycle occurred on Thursday night, caused by rapid loading from rain and snow. Avalanche activity is expected to decrease into Saturday, although it may remain possible for humans to trigger slabs where Friday's precipitation fell as snow. At lower elevations, any snow that accumulates on Saturday may slide easily on the melt-freeze crust.

We'd appreciate any observations while you are out travelling on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Rain soaked the snowpack below around 1200 m, which subsequently froze into a hard melt-freeze crust. Above 1200 m, new storm slabs formed from about 50 cm of snow from Thursday night. 

Around 100 to 150 cm deep, a thin and hard melt-freeze crust may sit above sugary faceted grains that formed during the cold spell in late December. Reports suggest that the snowpack may be bonding well to these previous surfaces.

The middle and base of the snowpack are strong, consisting of well-bonded snow and various hard melt-freeze crusts.

Terrain and Travel

  • The new snow may require another day to settle and stabilize.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.

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.