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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 24th, 2024–Jan 25th, 2024

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

Regions

Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla, Whatshan.

Storm slabs are resting on a layer of facets and may be slow to bond. Reactivity may persist longer than usual.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Storm slabs have been reactive in recent days, sliding on a facet layer below the recent storm snow. A natural cycle was observed Sunday up to size 2, all aspects and elevations. On Monday and Tuesday, numerous rider-triggered (including, ski cuts, accidental and remote triggered) avalanches were reported size 1-2.

On Monday, natural avalanches up to size 3 were suspected to have run on deeper weak layers in the Valhallas.

Snowpack Summary

Ongoing flurries continue to accumulate over 30 to 50 cm of recent snow. This snow sits over facets, surface hoar and wind-hardened snow, depending on elevation.

A few layers of note exist in the mid snowpack, including another crust/facet/surface hoar layer now buried 60-80 cm deep and a layer of surface hoar 130+ cm deep that was buried in early December. This layer is of most concern above 2000 m where a robust crust doesn't exist above it.

Weather Summary

Wednesday night

Mostly cloudy with flurries bringing around 5 cm of new snow. South alpine wind 40 km/h. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with flurries brining around 5 cm of new snow. South alpine wind 30-40 km/h. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Friday

5-10 cm of new snow overnight then a mix of sun and cloud. Southwest alpine wind 30-40 km/h, treeline temperature -1 °C, freezing level 1400 m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with flurries brining around 5 cm of new snow. Southwest alpine wind 40-50 km/h. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.
  • Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
  • Potential for wide propagation exists, fresh slabs may rest on surface hoar, facets and/or crust.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

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.

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.