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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 21st, 2020–Jan 22nd, 2020

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

Regions

Cariboos.

Recent fresh snow has been redistributed into pockets of wind slab at tree line and in the alpine. Use caution in wind exposed terrain.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the fact that persistent slabs are particularly difficult to forecast.

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY NIGHT - Cloudy with clear periods and isolated flurries / southwest wind, 10-30 km/h / alpine low temperature near -8

WEDNESDAY - Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries / southwest wind, 10-25 km/h / alpine high temperature near -8

THURSDAY - Flurries, 5-10 cm / southwest wind, 25-50 km/h / alpine high temperature near -2 / freezing level 1500 m

FRIDAY - Flurries, 5-10 cm / south wind, 20-40 km/h / alpine high temperature near -2 / freezing level 1500 m

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity has quieted down over the past few days, but recent snowfall and moderate southerly winds will mean that there will likely be fresh wind slabs, with the most reactive being in exposed terrain in the alpine and at treeline.

There have been no recent reports of persistent slab avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

The south of the region received around 10 to 20 cm of snow over the weekend. The snow was accompanied by moderate southerly winds and relatively warm temperatures, which will mean that the new snow has likely formed wind slabs in the alpine and at treeline.

The main concern over the past couple of weeks has been a layer of surface hoar buried 60 to 120 cm deep. This layer is primarily a concern at treeline and below. It appears to be gaining strength, though test results indicate that there is still the potential to trigger it in isolated areas.

Terrain and Travel

  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
  • Approach steep open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, buried surface hoar may exist.

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.