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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 8th, 2023–Jan 9th, 2023

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

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

A highly variable snowpack structure exists throughout the region.

Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected, and avoid shallow rocky terrain where triggering deeper layers is most likely.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported in the region since Friday. Please continue to post your observations and photos to the Mountain Information Network. It helps strengthen our data gathering.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15 cm of new snow has fallen into the region since Friday. Previous strong southerly winds have scoured alpine south-facing terrain and affected snow in open treeline features. A layer of surface hoar may still exist under the recent storm snow.

In sheltered terrain, 30 to 40 cm of low-density snow sits over a crust formed in late December. This crust varies in thickness throughout the terrain. In the mid-snowpack, a layer of surface hoar from early December has been observed down 80 to 100 cm on sheltered north-facing terrain, but has not shown signs of instabilities in the last week.

There is a layer of facets and depth hoar at the bottom of the snowpack, which remains a concern. Snowpack depths around treeline are about 150 cm deep. The snowpack below treeline is very shallow and faceted.

Weather Summary

A series of weak frontal bands will generate periods of light snow Sunday night and Monday night. Overcast skies and dry conditions are expected Tuesday and Wednesday.

Sunday night

Snow up to 5 cm, southwesterly winds increasing to 45 km/h, freezing level around 1200 m, low of -3C at treeline.

Monday

Cloudy, isolated flurries during the day, 3-5 cm overnight, moderate southerly winds gusting to 45 km/h, freezing level around 1000 m, high of -4C at treeline.

Tuesday

Cloudy, no precipitation, moderate southerly winds gusting to 45 km/h then easing off, freezing levels around 1400 m, high of -2C at treeline.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and clouds, no precipitation, moderate southeasterly winds, freezing levels around 1000 m, high of -5C at treeline.

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.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Conditions may have improved, but be mindful that deep instabilities are still present.
  • Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.

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.