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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 26th, 2020–Jan 27th, 2020

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

Regions

South Coast.

Avalanche hazard will increase in areas where fresh snow accumulates and wind redistributes loose snow.

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast precipitation (either snow or rain) amounts are uncertain.

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY Night: Snow and rain, 10-15 cm. Alpine low temperature -1 C. South wind 30-55 km/hr. Freezing level 1000 m.

MONDAY: Snow, 5-15 cm. Alpine high temperature +1 C. Southeast wind 20-45 km/hr. Freezing level 1400 m.

TUESDAY: Wet flurries, 10-15 cm. Alpine high temperature +1 C. South wind 25 gusting to 60 km/hr. Freezing level 1300 m.

WEDNESDAY: Snow and rain, 30-35 cm. Alpine high temperature +1 C. South wind 30-40 km/hr. Freezing level 1200 m.

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday, small pockets of loose wet snow were reactive to skiers.

Snowpack Summary

Rain has reached the top of the North Shore Mountains with wet snow falling above 1400 m. A surface crust has formed with cooler overnight temperatures. Dry snow may persist at the highest elevations, and has been heavily impacted by wind. The snowpack is strong and settled from earlier rain, and now 200-300 cm deep around the peaks of the North Shore mountains.

Terrain and Travel

  • Minimize exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.
  • Avoid terrain traps such as gullies and cliffs where the consequence of any avalanche could be serious.
  • As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

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.