Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 25th, 2024–Jan 26th, 2024

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Coast, Powell River, Tantalus, North Shore, Sasquatch, Sasquatch, Sky Pilot, Tetrahedron.

Closely monitor conditions as you gain elevation. Up high, where precipitation may have fallen as snow, rider triggerable storm slabs are likely.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Observations from alpine terrain in this forecast region have been limited. We suspect that natural avalanches have been occurring at high elevations where precipitation has been falling as snow.

Snowpack Summary

In high alpine terrain recent precipitation may have fallen as snow and formed storm and wind slabs. At treeline the majority of recent precipitation has fallen as rain , with fluctuating freezing levels a mix of heavy snow and crusts could be found. Below treeline the snowpack is saturated and disappearing.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with around 10 mm of mixed precipitation expected, south alpine wind 30 to 50 km/h, freezing level around 1400 m.

Friday

Cloudy with up to 30 mm of mixed precipitation expected, south alpine wind 30 to 50 km/h, freezing level rising to 2000 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with up to 40 mm of rain expected, south alpine wind 40 to 70 km/h, freezing level rising to 2500 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with up to 100 mm of rain expected, south alpine wind 50 to 70 km/h, freezing level rising to 2800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Choose conservative terrain and watch for clues of instability.
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.