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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 9th, 2024–Jan 10th, 2024

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

Regions

Kootenay Boundary, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, South Okanagan, Ymir, Crawford, Moyie, St. Mary, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla.

Avalanche hazard remains elevated as the recent storm snow will require time to settle and stabilize.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous natural and human-triggered storm and wind slab avalanches have been reported since the weekend, mostly sized 1 to 2.

Check out this MIN report that details a size 2.5 skier-triggered avalanche near Whitewater Resort on Saturday.

Snowpack Summary

In the past week, as much as 50 cm of snow has accumulated in some areas. This new snow has buried a variety of old surfaces, including surface hoar on north-facing slopes and a sun crust on south-facing slopes.

The middle of the snowpack contains a series of old melt freeze-crusts.

A thick crust deep in the snowpack largely protects any weak layers further down in the snowpack from being triggered.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow, southwest alpine winds 30 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -9 °C.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and cloud with up to 5 cm of snow, northwest alpine winds 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature - 14 °C.

Thursday

Mix of sun and cloud with trace snow amounts, northwest alpine winds 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature - 18 °C.

Friday

Mostly sunny with no precipitation, north alpine winds 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -30 °C.

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.
  • Give the new snow several days to settle and stabilize before pushing into bigger terrain.

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.