Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 13th, 2025 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
Avalanche Canada,
Avalanche Canada
6:25 AM Update: Travel in avalanche terrain at higher elevations is not recommended.
Deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Numerous naturally triggered large and very large storm slabs, wind slabs and persistent slabs, occurred across the region over the last few days.
Skiers have also reported widespread whumpfing and shooting cracks. As well as remote-triggering wind slabs.
Similar activity may occur on Tuesday.
Snowpack Summary
Around 25 to 50 cm of snow is forecast until Tuesday afternoon. Strong to extreme west through southwesterly winds have been redistributing snow, creating widespread wind effect and building deeper and more reactive deposits on lee slopes.
Last week's 40 to 80 cm of storm snow is settling with the mild temperatures. However the storm snow may be slow to bond where it sits on surface hoar, facets, or a thin crust.
A surface crust may exist below 900 -1200 m.
A persistent weak layer of surface hoar and facets overlying a crust is buried 60 to 100 cm deep in the southern parts of the region, and up to 150 cm deep in areas north of Stewart. Avalanches failing on this layer could be very large and destructive.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Cloudy with 20 to 50 cm of snow. Highest amounts for coastal areas, dissipating further inland. 50 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C.
Tuesday
Cloudy with 1 to 5 cm. 90 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.
Wednesday
Cloudy with 5 to 25 cm of snow, highest amounts for coastal areas, dissipating further inland. 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C.
Thursday
Cloudy with 1 to 5 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Travel in alpine terrain is not recommended.
- Be aware of the potential for remote triggering and large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.
- Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
- Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.
- Use careful route-finding and stick to moderate angled slopes with low consequences.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Watch for newly formed and reactive storm slabs within the new snow. These slabs may be deepest and touchiest in leeward terrain features. Potential remains for slabs to step down to deeper persistent weak layers.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
The persistent slab avalanche problem has been active on the last 48 hours and has resulted in large to very large avalanches (size 2 to 3). Expect with the increasing snowfall and snow load, this problem will continue to remain likely.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 14th, 2025 4:00PM
