Avalanche forecast

North Columbia

Jan 20 – 21, 2024Avalanche Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 3 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map

Highlights

Wind slabs are reactive to human triggering, be cautious when transitioning into wind affected snow.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    New wind slabs are resting on faceted snow from the previous cold weather and may be more reactive and slower to bond.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    50-80 cm of snow sits above a crust and surface hoar which has produced natural, remote and rider-triggered avalanches in the past week. As the unconsolidated snow settles and forms a slab, a reactive upper snowpack may exist.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Multiple human triggered wind slabs in the alpine and treeline in variably wind affected terrain were reported on Thursday.

On Wednesday, numerous natural and human-triggered storm slabs (size 1-2) were reported in the alpine and treeline. Where the storm snow remained loose and uncohesive, widespread dry loose activity was reported with skier traffic in steep terrain.

Snowpack Summary

20 to 30 cm of recent storm snow has buried a variety of snow surfaces. It sits above unconsolidated faceted snow, surface hoar and firm wind-pressed snow in open terrain at treeline and above.

Down 60 to 80 cm, a crust, facet and or surface hoar layer exists. This may become a problem once the snow above starts to stiffen and form a slab.

130+ cm down another surface hoar layer exists that was buried in early December. This layer is of most concern above 2000 m where a robust crust doesn't exist above it.

Weak basal facets are likely to be found on the ground in shallow snowpack areas.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Cloudy with 5-10 cm of snow, alpine wind south 15 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -8 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow, alpine wind south 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -3 C.

Sunday

Cloudy with up to 3 cm of snow, alpine wind south 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -5 C.

Monday

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow, alpine wind south 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature 0 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Regions covered