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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 25th, 2021–Jan 26th, 2021

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
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

Kootenay Boundary.

Low hazard doesn't mean no hazard! Watch for isolated pockets of wind slab at upper elevations and remember that small avalanches can have big consequences in certain terrain features, like above cliffs or terrain traps.

Confidence

High - Confidence is due to a stable weather pattern with little change expected.

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT - Cloudy with clear periods and a few flurries / light south wind / alpine low temperature near -10

TUESDAY - Mainly cloudy with a few flurries / light to moderate south wind / alpine high temperature near -8 

WEDNESDAY - Mainly cloudy with a few flurries, 5 cm / moderate to strong south wind / alpine high temperature near -7 

THURSDAY - Flurries, 5-10 cm / moderate to strong southwest wind / alpine high temperature near -5

Avalanche Summary

One size 1 human triggered wind slab avalanche was reported on a northeast aspect at 2000 m in the Five Mile Provincial Park area on Saturday. This is a good reminder of the hazards that still need to be managed during times of relatively low danger. Otherwise, there have been no new reports of avalanches in the last couple of days. 

Snowpack Summary

One or more crusts may exist in the upper snowpack depending on elevation and area within the region. The uppermost crust extends up to around 2000 m (i.e. ridgetop in areas such as Rossland). In higher terrain, 10-15 cm of wind affected snow may sit over a crust and/or large surface hoar crystals.

A layer of surface hoar found 20-50 cm below the surface in isolated areas in the north and east of the region appears to be gaining strength. Recent test results suggest that it may be possible to trigger this layer in isolated areas, but it has not produced any avalanches in over a week.

A couple of crusts surrounded by weak faceted grains are buried deep within the snowpack. The upper layer is 80 to 130 cm deep and the lower is near the ground. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.