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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 9th, 2024–Jan 10th, 2024

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

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Esplanade, Jordan, North Selkirk, Shuswap, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, North Okanagan, Whatshan.

Keep making conservative terrain choices as the new snow settles and stabilizes. Dial up your caution if you encounter signs of instability like shooting cracks or recent avalanches.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

We're waiting on reports from an almost certainly busy day for avalanche activity Tuesday as 20-40 cm of new snow blanketed the region. The scene was likely similar to the end of the week when we saw 30-60 cm of new snow.

That storm led to a mix of numerous storm slab and dry loose releases, mainly to size 1.5 (small). Will we see anything larger in this round?

Expect new snow to remain sensitive to triggering, particularly in windy areas and where surface hoar may be preserved.

Snowpack Summary

Roughly 25-30 cm of new snow fell in the region early this week. It buried moderately wind-affected surfaces and wind slabs in exposed areas at elevation, but mainly added to 30-60 cm of storm snow from Saturday. All this snow collectively sits on an aspect and elevation-dependent mix of crusts, surface hoar, and facets. Areas where surface hoar may be preserved are a concern.

A crust formed by early December rain is found ~70 cm deep, and an old layer of surface hoar 60 to 100 cm deep. Recent observations suggest triggering this layer is unlikely.

The lower snowpack is variable throughout the region and weak basal facets are likely to be found on the ground in shallow snowpack areas.

Weather Summary

Tuesday night

Cloudy with continuing flurries bringing a final 5-10 cm of new snow. Southwest alpine winds shifting northwest, 10-30 km/h, easing.

Wednesday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. West or northwest alpine wind, 15-30 km/h. Treeline temperature -14°C.

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Variable, mainly northwest alpine wind 5-25 km/h. Treeline temperature -20°C to -25°C.

Friday

Sunny. Northwest alpine wind 5-15 km/h. Treeline temperature -30°C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.

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 Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.