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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 27th, 2020–Jan 28th, 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.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Columbia.

Recent fresh snow has been redistributed into pockets of wind slab at treeline and in the alpine. Use caution in wind exposed terrain.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT - Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries / southeast wind, 20-40 km/h / alpine low temperature near -8

TUESDAY - Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries / southwest wind, 20-40 km/h / alpine high temperature near -6 / freezing level 1300 m

WEDNESDAY - Cloudy with scattered flurries, 5 cm / southwest wind, 40-60 km/h / alpine high temperature near -5 / freezing level 1300 m

THURSDAY - Cloudy with scattered flurries, 5-10 cm / southwest wind, 20-40 km/h / alpine high temperature near -5 / freezing level 1300 m

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, is it expected that wind loaded areas will be the most likely places to trigger an avalanche.

Over the past five days there has been widespread avalanche activity, with the bulk of it occurring on Friday and Saturday. There have been reports of many natural, human and explosives triggered avalanches up to size 3 since Thursday. Avalanche activity began to taper off on Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

Regular snowfall over the past week brought about 40-80 cm of snow to the region, with the greatest accumulations in the Monashees. Moderate to strong southerly winds and warm temperatures have promoted slab development in the alpine and at treeline. 

Recent rain at lower elevations means that the surface may be either a melt-freeze crust, or wet snow below about 1500 m

There is a weak layer of surface hoar that is down about 90-130 cm deep in the Selkirks and 120-160 cm deep in the Monashees and exists primarily at treeline and below treeline. This layer has not produced any recent avalanches in the region. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid freshly wind loaded terrain features.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect and exposure to wind.

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.