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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 11th, 2023–Jan 12th, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Coquihalla, Harrison-Fraser, Manning, Skagit.

Dangerous avalanche conditions will develop with heavy snowfalls and rain.

Choose simple, low-angle, well-supported terrain with no overhead hazard.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported in the region since Wednesday. Unstable wet loose snow was observed Tuesday on steep south and west aspects around 1600 m. Old evidences of loose wet avalanches, glide avalanches, and old wind slabs from the past weekend were still visible.

Snowpack Summary

Hard snow is found at upper elevations on open northerly terrain. Previous winds have scoured south-facing and east-facing slopes. Evidence of cross-loading is also found on any open slopes. A new melt-freeze crust has formed on the surface between 1000 and 1500 m. Moist snow is found at lower elevations.

In sheltered terrain, around 30 to 70 cm overlies a rain crust that formed in late December. The mid-snowpack is well-settled. The lower snowpack consists of several crusts with weak faceted crystals above and below that are beginning to heal and bond to each other.

Snowpack depths are roughly 145 to 185 cm at treeline and taper rapidly below 1500 m.

Weather Summary

A strong storm will push onto the region early Thursday and stall for 48h. Moderate snowfalls are expected before the subtropical flow brings warm air and heavy rain. Sustained high-freezing levels will last until Saturday.

Wednesday night

Cloudy, no precipitation, light southeasterly winds increasing to 40 km/h, freezing levels around 1200 m, low of -4C at treeline.

Thursday

Stormy 15-25 cm, rain at lower elevations, moderate southerly winds gusting 60 km/h, freezing levels at 1500 m rising to 1800 m, high of +2C at treeline. 20-30 mm of rain overnight.

Friday

Rain 15-20 mm, snow at higher elevations only, moderate southerly winds gusting 50 km/h, freezing levels around 2000 m, high of +3C at treeline.

Saturday

Cloudy, lingering flurries, moderate southwesterly winds gusting 40 km/h, freezing levels dropping to 1500 m, high of -2C at treeline.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for changing conditions today, storm slabs may become increasingly reactive.
  • Minimize exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind or rain.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
  • The first few hours of rain will likely be the most dangerous period.

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.