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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 8th, 2024–Jan 9th, 2024

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

Regions

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

Avalanche size and likelihood will increase throughout the day with continued snowfall.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Numerous storm and wind slab avalanches were reported over 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 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 crusts with the potential of small facetted crystals above.

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

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow, southwest alpine winds 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -10 °C.

Tuesday

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow, southwest alpine winds 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -8 °C.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and cloud with up to 10 cm of snow by the morning and a trace amount through the day, west alpine winds 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -10 °C.

Thursday

Mix of sun and cloud with 2 to 8 cm of snow, southwest alpine winds 10 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -15 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • It's critical to stay disciplined and choose only well supported, low consequence lines.
  • Use increased caution at all elevations. Storm snow is forming touchy slabs.
  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent 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.