Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 27th, 2020–Jan 28th, 2020

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

Regions

South Coast.

Strong overnight winds and continued snowfall at upper elevations will form reactive storm slabs, maintaining elevated avalanche danger Tuesday.   

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast precipitation (either snow or rain) amounts are uncertain.

Weather Forecast

Monday night: 10-15 cm new snow. Alpine low 0 C. Strong southwest winds Freezing level 1000-1200 m.

Tuesday: 5-15 cm new snow with rain below 1200 m. Light south winds. Freezing level 1300 m.

Wednesday: 20-30 cm of new snow with rain below 900 m. Strong southwest winds, easing overnight. Freezing level 1200 m.

Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud with flurries in the evening. Light southwest winds building to strong in the evening. Freezing level 1500 m.

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday, small pockets of loose wet snow (less than size 1) were reactive to skier traffic.

Snowpack Summary

New snow overnight and through the day above 1200 m sits on a rain crust up to 1400 m. Dry snow at higher elevations has been heavily wind affected by strong overnight winds. The snowpack is strong and settled from earlier rain, and now 200-300 cm deep around the peaks of the north shore mountains. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Minimize exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.
  • Avoid terrain traps such as gullies and cliffs where the consequence of any avalanche could be serious.
  • As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.

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 Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.