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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 15th, 2025–Jan 16th, 2025

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

North Columbia, South Columbia, Blue River, Premier, Clemina, Esplanade, Jordan, North Monashee, North Selkirk, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla, Whatshan.

New wind slabs should form with forecast weather, but they may not be the greatest concern. Recent reports point to a layer of surface hoar making existing wind slabs especially reactive.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Monday, a snowcat west of Revelstoke triggered a small slab which failed on the early December weak layer. It was at treeline on a west aspect.

On Saturday and to a lesser extent through the early part of the week, there have been numerous, small accidentally triggered wind slab avalanches. The recent layer of surface hoar was usually noted as the failure plane. One very large (size 3) wind slab avalanche was triggered by a skier in neighbouring Glacier National Park.

Snowpack Summary

Light new snow and elevated winds through Thursday shouldn't do much to alter presently wind-affected surfaces in open areas at all elevations.

In sheltered terrain, we may see up to 10 cm added to the present 30 to 40 cm of settling snow sitting on a layer of weak, feathery surface hoar crystals that exists into the alpine. On sunny slopes and below about 1500 m it should bury a melt-freeze crust of varying thickness. Wind slabs formed over the surface hoar have been reactive. Small new slabs forming on the new crust may be similar.

A crust/facet/surface hoar layer buried in early December may be found 90 to 160 cm deep. Activity on this layer has tapered significantly in the last couple of weeks.

Weather Summary

Wednesday night

Cloudy with increasing flurries bringing an initial trace of new snow. 30 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind, increasing. The incoming storm will scour away the above freezing layer lingering between 1700 and 2500 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with continuing with scattered flurries bringing 5 - 10 total cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind shifting northwest and easing. Treeline temperature falling to -6 °C.

Friday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature falling to -8 °C.

Saturday

Mainly sunny. 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -13 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for signs of slab formation throughout the day.
  • Avoid areas where the snow feels stiff and/or slabby.
  • Be aware of the potential for remote triggering and large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.

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.