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 10th, 2019–Jan 11th, 2019

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 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.

Regions

Sea To Sky.

Rising freezing levels will warm the snowpack and stress instabilities. Be alert to changing snow conditions and ready to adjust your travel plans accordingly.

Confidence

Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain

Weather Forecast

THURSDAY NIGHT: Flurries, accumulating up to 10 cm. Strong south-southwest wind. Freezing level rising above 1600 m.FRIDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, trace to 5 cm accumulation. Moderate south-southwest wind gusting strong. Freezing level rising above 2000 m.SATURDAY: Cloudy with sunny period. Light to moderate south wind. Freezing level above 2000 m.SUNDAY: Mainly cloudy. Light south wind with occasional moderate gusts. Freezing level 2000 m.More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday morning, loose wet avalanches were reported below 1700 m.Numerous storm slab avalanches to size 2 were triggered by explosives and skiers on Wednesday. Additionally, a large (size 2) cornice failed under the weight of a person. On Monday, Several small wind slabs were triggered by skiers near ridge crest.

Snowpack Summary

35 cm accumulating Thursday morning with 40-50 cm snow since January 7 being redistributed to moderate to strong south winds. Wind and warming temperatures have built storm slabs and cornices. As of Thursday morning, freezing levels were around 1700m, and some areas below 1600 m receiving rain. As freezing levels rise, warming temperatures and rain on snow can rapidly lead to loose wet avalanches.The new snow has buried old wind slabs on a variety of slopes at alpine and treeline elevations. At treeline and below, two weak layers exist in the upper 2 m of the snowpack. These layers consist of surface hoar (feathery crystals) in more sheltered areas and a crust on solar aspects and on all aspects below 1600m.In the lower snowpack, a crust/facet (sugar snow) layer is now over 2 m deep. There have been no recent reports of avalanches on this layer, but it may still be reactive to heavy loads (such as a cornice fall) in isolated areas.

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.