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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 1st, 2024–Feb 2nd, 2024

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

Regions

Cariboos, Blue River, McBride, Premier, Quesnel, Clemina, Esplanade, North Monashee, North Selkirk.

Mushy snow remains down low, up high it will be crusty.

Avalanche debris and a developing melt-freeze will make travel tricky, trust me.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

The natural avalanche cycle observed on the weekend and earlier in the week due to the warming event has begun to taper with cooling temperatures. Numerous size 2-4 wet slab, persistent slab, and wet loose avalanches were seen from all aspects and elevations.

Snowpack Summary

Moist or crusty snow surfaces exist from recent rain and warm temperatures. In the alpine, less than 5 cm of dry snow may overlies a crust. At lower elevations the snowpack is isothermal.

The stress of the new load (warm, wet upper snowpack) has produced avalanches failing down to the early and mid-January crust/facet layer (30-80 cm down) and the early December rain crust/ facet layer (100+ cm down) This activity is expected to taper with cooling temperatures.

The lower snowpack is characterized by weak basal facets in many areas.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with light rain or snow, up to 5 mm. Alpine wind south 30 to 60 km/h. Treeline temperature 0 °C, freezing level 1800 m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with light rain or snow, less than 5 mm. Alpine wind southwest 10 to 20 km/h. Treeline temperature -1 °C, freezing level 1700 m.

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Alpine wind northwest 10 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Sunday

A mix of sun and cloud. Alpine wind northeast 15 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • A crust on the surface will help bind the snow together, but may make for tough travel conditions.
  • Avalanche hazard may have improved, but be mindful that deep instabilities are still present.
  • Keep in mind that wet avalanches can be destructive due to their high density.

Problems

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.