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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 2nd, 2023–Feb 3rd, 2023

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

Regions

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

Look for fresh pockets of wind slabs from southwesterly winds in the alpine and treeline lees. Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation so use extra caution around freshly wind-loaded features.

Avoid shallow, rocky snowpack areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin and triggering the deep persistent weak layer is still possible.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Reports from the past few days are limited to one small wind slab avalanche (size 1.5) from Monday. It occurred naturally on a reverse-loaded feature in the Hurley area. Last Friday, a size 2.5 skier-triggered deep persistent slab occurred in the Birkenhead area. This avalanche was remotely triggered, meaning the skier was a distance away from the slab when it occurred (100 m above). It occurred on a wind-loaded slope in the alpine during a period of strong solar radiation. The crown was 150 cm deep.

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

Snowpack Summary

Strong southwest winds are redistributing available snow into fresh wind slabs at alpine and treeline lees. In the alpine fresh wind slabs cover scoured polar aspects. In sheltered areas, 10 to 20 cm of recent storm snow is faceting with cold temperatures. A surface crust can be found below 1800 m and all elevations steep solar aspects.

In the midpack, a weak layer can be found 50 to 100 cm deep, as a decomposing crust, or 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 in this region is weak and shallow. Snowpack depths around treeline are highly variable and range between 150 to 250 cm.

Weather Summary

Thursday night

Mainly cloudy with clear periods and isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Southwesterly ridgetop winds 40 km/h. Treeline temperatures -2 ˚C. Freezing levels 1200 m.

Friday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, 2-5 cm accumulation. Southwesterly ridgetop winds 40 km/h. Treeline temperatures -1 ˚C. Freezing levels 1400 m.

Overnight cloudy with isolated flurries, 10-15 cm accumulation.

Saturday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, 2 cm accumulation. Southwesterly ridgetop winds 20 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperatures -1 ˚C. Freezing levels 1500 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries, 2 cm accumulation. Southwesterly ridgetop winds 20 km/h. Treeline temperatures -1 ˚C. Freezing levels 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.