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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 25th, 2023–Jan 26th, 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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Coast Inland, Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, Stein, Taseko.

While freezing levels remain elevated so does the avalanche hazard. Warm temperatures are weakening cornices and deteriorating snow surfaces, especially in areas that are exposed to full sun. Avalanche hazard should improve in areas where temperatures are below zero.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported in the region.

Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of storm snow sits over wind-affected surfaces at higher elevations and a crust below 1800 m.

A weak layer, formed in late December, can be found 50-100 cm deep. In the Hurley and Birkenhead areas it may present as surface hoar sitting on a crust and can be found between 1700 and 1900m in elevation. The crust varies in thickness with terrain and elevation; in many places it's more of a soft and weak section of the snowpack.

There is a widespread weak layer of facets and depth hoar at the bottom of the snowpack. Generally, the snowpack is weak in this region. Snowpack depths around treeline are highly variable and range between 150 - 230 cm.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Clear with cloudy periods. Light northwesterly winds occasionally gusting to 25 km/h. 1500m temperature high of 0C. The above freezing layer is present from 1500 - 2500 m tonight.

Thursday

Cloudy with sunny periods. Light northwesterly winds occasionally gusting to 40 km/h. 1500m temperature high of +1C. The above freezing layer between 1500-2500m dissipates in the afternoon and freezing levels fall to 800 m overnight.

Overnight, cloudy with scattered flurries, 2-5 cm accumulation.

Friday

Cloudy with sunny periods. Light northwesterly winds occasionally gusting to 30 km/h. 1500m temperature high -4C. Freezing level of 1000 m.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Light northeasterly winds occasionally gusting to 40 km/h. 1500m temperature high of -8C. Freezing level drop to valley bottom.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to the wind, once it starts to blow fresh sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
  • Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.
  • Brief periods of sun could quickly initiate natural avalanche activity.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.