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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 30th, 2023–Jan 31st, 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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kootenay Boundary, Bonnington, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, South Okanagan, Ymir, Moyie, St. Mary.

Watch for pockets of wind slab at upper elevations from recent northerly winds. These slabs may be in atypical areas due to reverse-loading and are particularly reactive on southern aspects where they overlie a crust.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday, a few natural loose dry avalanches were reported up to size 1.5 in steep terrain.

On Saturday, explosives control produced wind slab avalanches to size 2 on southern aspects. Several size 1 wind slab avalanches, triggered by skier traffic, were reported throughout the region. A few size 1 natural loose dry avalanches were observed in steep terrain.

Thank's for all the MIN's! Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of snow has been redistributed by variable winds at alpine and treeline elevations. On southerly aspects, snow sits above a melt-freeze crust while on northerly aspects it overlies previously wind-affected surfaces.

Several weak layers are found mid-snowpack. A surface hoar layer from early January is found down 40-80 cm. Observations suggest that this layer is slowly rounding. If preserved it would be found in sheltered and shaded terrain features.

A thick melt freeze crust from Boxing Day is buried 70-100 cm deep. This layer is helping to cap lower snowpack weaknesses but at higher elevations, this crust is thinner and less supportive.

The lower snowpack contains weak and facetted grains. Professionals continue to monitor weak layers in the snowpack however they are not active avalanche problems at this time. Avoid shallow, rocky areas where snowpack transitions from thick to thin and triggering weak layers is more likely.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Increasing cloud with scattered flurries, 2-5 cm accumulation. Moderate northwesterly ridgetop winds occasionally gusting 60 km/h. Alpine low of -15°C.

Tuesday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Westerley ridgetop winds 40 km/h. Alpine high of -10°C.

Wednesday

A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, 2 cm accumulation. Trace accumulations of snowfall. Light westerly ridgetop winds occasionally gusting 40 km/h. Alpine high of -8°C.

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud. Light southwesterly ridgetop winds occasionally gusting 40 km/h. Alpine high of -5°C. Freezing levels 600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.

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.