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 26th, 2020–Jan 27th, 2020

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

Regions

Glacier.

Sneaky pockets of wind slabs are reactive to triggering. Use extra caution in confined terrain where small avalanches can pick up loose snow and in extreme terrain where small avalanches can have big consequences. Extra heads up if the sun comes out!

Weather Forecast

Today should be mostly cloudy, with possible sunny breaks, freezing levels rising to 1700m and flurries starting later in the morning. Ridgetop winds should increase to moderate S'ly. Flurries will continue through Monday. Snow on Tuesday will add up to ~15cm with gusty SW winds and freezing levels at 1500m. 

Snowpack Summary

Sun and thin cloud caused greenhouse effect yesterday with temps in sun exposed areas at treeline reaching +2'C. Expect a sun crust on solar aspects. Storm slabs from the ~60cm snow over the past week seem to be settling and bonding, but periods of moderate to strong southerly winds have created pockets of windslab on lee features.

Avalanche Summary

Yesterday, skiers in the Forever Young couloir triggered a size 2 avalanche. Two people were carried down the couloir with partial burials and serious injuries, and were evacuated via helicopter just before dark. Strong solar triggered loose avalanches to size 2.5. Skiers also triggered avalanches on NRC, Video Peak and Grizzly Couloir. this week.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

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.