Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 9th, 2023–Jan 10th, 2023

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

Regions

South Coast, North Shore, Sasquatch, Tetrahedron.

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist at alpine and treeline elevations.

Make conservative terrain choices by choosing low-angle slopes and avoid overhead hazards.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported this weekend with limited travel and visibility in the mountains. Please continue to post your observations and photos to the Mountain Information Network. It helps strengthen our data gathering.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15 mm of precipitation (snow/ rain) has fallen into the region Sunday. At treeline, 30-40 cm of moist snow is overlying a supportive crust formed late December. At the higher elevation, dry snow may be found. As the freezing level falls, a new crust will form on all aspects at treeline. Below treeline, the snow surface will likely remain moist and saturated.

Weather Summary

A frontal band will generate periods of moderate snowfalls Monday night. The heaviest precipitation will fall along upslope regions of the South Coast. Overcast skies and dry conditions are expected by midday Tuesday. A deeper system is expected to push heavier snowfalls into the region late evening Wednesday.

Monday night

Stormy, 20 cm of new snow expected at higher elevations, rain at treeline and below, moderate southeast winds gusting at 50 km/h, freezing levels rising to 1200 m, low of +2C at treeline.

Tuesday

Stormy 5-10 cm ending by midday, moderate southeasterly winds gusting 40 km/h then easing off, freezing levels around 1200 m, high of +2C at treeline.

Wednesday

Snow 5-10 cm starting midday at higher elevations, rain at treeline and below, moderate southeasterly winds gusting 50 km/h, freezing levels around 1400 m, high of -2C at treeline.

Thursday

Stormy, 20-30 mm of rain, snow at upper elevation only, moderate southeasterly winds gusting 65 km/h, freezing levels around 2000 m, high of +4C at treeline.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Storm snow and wind is forming touchy slabs. Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline.
  • Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind or rain.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.