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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 15th, 2024–Jan 16th, 2024

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, North Rockies, McBride, Quesnel, Sugarbowl, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson.

Old wind slabs remain reactive to riders especially where they are sitting on a crust or a weak layer.

Seek out areas with soft snow on the surface that are sheltered from the wind.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

North winds early last week have driven a natural windslab cycle in mostly south facing terrain. Avalanches averaged between size 1-2 with only a few size 2.5 avalanches reported. Ski cuts are still producing small wind slabs in isolated terrain at treeline and alpine elevations.

Check out this MIN for more details.

Avalanche activity has tapered off and no new avalanches have been reported over the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

Last week's strong northerly winds created wind slabs in exposed areas at treeline and above on south and westerly faces.

10-20 cm of snow fell in the region last week. This snow sits on a crust up to 1400 m - 1900 m. In areas east of Quesnel and Williams Lake, reports say there is also a weak layer of surface hoar with the crust.

Two more layers of surface hoar may be found buried between 90 and 150 cm at treeline. The likelihood of triggering these layers is low, but is most likely in shallow rocky areas at upper treeline.

The current snowpack is shallow and variable in structure throughout the region.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Mostly cloudy with up to 3 cm of snow, west alpine wind 20-40 km/h, treeline temperature high -22 °C.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow, variable alpine wind 20-30 km/h, treeline temperature -16 °C.

Wednesday

Partly cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow, east alpine wind 10-40 km/h, gusting 60 km/h, treeline temperature -18 °C.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with no new snow, east alpine wind 10-30 km/h, treeline temperature high -18 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • The best and safest riding will be on slopes that have soft snow without any slab properties.

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.