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 27th, 2024–Jan 28th, 2024

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

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Jordan, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Whatshan.

Ingredients for high avalanche danger:

Heavy, wet precipitation✅ Rising freezing levels ✅ A buried weak layer ✅

Stoke wood stove to 375 °F and avoid avalanche terrain today!

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Over the past week, we've seen consistent avalanche activity on the mid January facet layer detailed in the snowpack summary. Widely propagating slabs have been triggered naturally, by riders and even remotely, size 1.5-2.5. This activity is expected to continue with additional snow/rain load this weekend.

Snowpack Summary

Heavy snow turning to rain, moistening surfaces as the freezing level creeps up the mountain. In the high alpine, dry snow may continue to be redistributed by wind.

A layer of facets formed during the mid January cold snap sat 30-50 cm deep prior to the weekend's storm. This layer has been actively producing avalanches and is expected to continue as it is stressed by the new load.

In the Selkirks, another crust/facet/surface hoar layer buried in early January, now 60-90 cm deep remains on the radar. In the Monashees, the mid and lower snowpack is generally strong and well bonded.

Weather Summary

Saturday night

20-25 cm of snow turning to rain in high terrain between Revelstoke and Blue River, 5-10 elsewhere. South alpine wind 20-40 km/h. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Sunday

15-20 mm of mixed precip in high terrain of the front ranges along the Columbia valley between Nakusp and Blue River, 5-10 mm elsewhere. Precip ending midday. South alpine wind 20-30 km/h. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud. South alpine wind 40-60 km/h. Treeline temperature +3 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with flurries bringing around 5 cm of new snow. South alpine wind 40-60 km/h. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
  • The more the snowpack warms-up and weakens, the more conservative you`ll want to be with your terrain selection.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.

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.

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.