Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 30th, 2024 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Wet Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

Avalanche Canada swerner, Avalanche Canada

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Until cold temperatures lock in this warm and wet snowpack, dangerous avalanche conditions and poor riding quality will exist.

Summary

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

Sunday and Monday saw a natural avalanche cycle with avalanches on all aspects and elevations to size 3.

A fatal avalanche incident involving one snowmobiler occurred in the Hasler riding area on Saturday. The avalanche was triggered in a wind-loaded east-facing chute feature at treeline and ran approximately 250 m. It likely failed on a layer of facets buried earlier in January. For more details on this incident, see the Fatal Avalanche Incident report.

Snowpack Summary

High freezing levels and rain have moistened the surface snow to 2500 m and wet, rain saturdated snow exists up to 2200 m.

A weak layer of facets exist down 30 to 60 cm and a prominent crust down 40 to 100 cm. The crust is reported to extend up to 1900 m in the Cariboos and up to 1600 m around Pine Pass. The stress of the new load (warm, wet upper snowpack) has produced large avalanches possibly failing on these layers.

In areas east of the Divide the snowpack is shallow and faceted with depths of 60 to 100 cm around treeline.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy, alpine temperatures near -3°C, south alpine wind 15 gusting to 40 km/h, freezing level around 1900 m.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy with light rain/snow expected, southwest alpine wind 10 to 20 km/h, freezing level around 2000 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with light rain/snow, alpine temperatures near 1°C, southeast alpine wind 20 km/h, freezing level rising to 1700 m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy, isolated flurries, alpine temperatures -2°C, southeast alpine wind 10 to 25 km/h, freezing level rising to 1300 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • Be aware of the potential for surprisingly large avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.

Problems

Wet Slabs

An icon showing Wet Slabs

Wet slab and wet loose avalanches are likely when the upper snowpack is saturated from rain and prolonged elevated freezing levels.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

Sustained high freezing levels have increased the likelyhood of weak layers deeper in the snowpack becoming active.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Valid until: Jan 31st, 2024 4:00PM

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