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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 2nd, 2023–Jan 3rd, 2023

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

Avoid wind-loaded areas at upper elevations. The top layer of snow is sitting on a crust and could remain reactive to human triggering for longer than is typical.

Be mindful of your aspect and elevation as changes in avalanche reactivity will correspond with your choice of terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday, many riders got surprised by small (size 1) reactive wind slabs failing on the underlying rain crust. These slabs occurred in wind-loaded terrain in the alpine and treeline. More evidence of these types of avalanches were observed on Sunday as well.

Wind slabs may remain reactive to human triggering for longer than is typical due the crust they are sitting on. Avoid wind-loaded terrain and watch for signs of instability as you travel.

Please continue to post your observations and photos to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Storms that wrapped up on the 31st, brought 15 to 40 cm and were accompanied by strong southwest winds creating hard wind-affected surfaces in open areas, and wind slabs in lee terrain features. This new snow overlies a rain crust formed earlier in the week.

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 140 to 180 cm at treeline.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Clear skies, no accumulation, winds south 10 to 20 km/h, freezing level dropping to the valley bottom.

Tuesday

Cloudy with sunny periods, trace accumulation late in the day, winds southwest 25 km/h, temperatures -5 to 0 °C at 1500 m.

Wednesday

A mix of sun and cloud, trace accumulation, winds south to southeast 15 to 30 km/h, temperatures -3 °C at 1500 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with late day sun, trace accumulation, winds southeast 15 to 30 km/h, temperatures-5 °C at 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Keep in mind the crust offers an excellent bed surface for avalanches.
  • Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.

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.