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 24th, 2024–Jan 25th, 2024

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

Regions

Coquihalla, Harrison-Fraser, Manning, Skagit.

Assess surface conditions as you gain elevation. Where dry snow is found, small wind slabs are likely . Where the snow surface is wet, loose avalanches are possible.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Small wet loose avalanches have been reported in the past few days. This type of avalanche activity could continue in steep terrain as we continue to go through a cycle of rising and falling freezing levels.

Snowpack Summary

In the alpine precipitation has been falling as snow and  forming wind slabs on northerly aspects. At treeline and below a crust will likely be found on the surface that may break down throughout the day and become moist.

The mid and lower snowpack contain several crusts that are not concerning. The snowpack remains shallow for this time of year.

Weather Summary

ednesday Night

A mix of cloud and clear skies with 2 cm of new snow expected, south alpine wind 15 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -2°C.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with around 5 mm of mixed precipitation expected, southwest alpine wind 25 to 50 km/h, freezing level rising to 1700 m.

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud with no new snow expected, south alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, freezing level rising to 1900 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with 5 mm of rain expected, southwest alpine wind 40 to 60 km/h, freezing level rising to 2300 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
  • Even a small avalanche can be harmful if it pushes you into an obstacle or a terrain trap.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.