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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 20th, 2020–Jan 21st, 2020

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

Regions

North Columbia.

Storm slabs may be reactive to human triggering, especially in wind loaded areas, and at upper elevations. Watch for signs of instability such as whumphing, cracking and recent avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT - Cloudy with clear periods / southeast wind, 10-30 km/h / alpine low temperature near -4

TUESDAY - Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, up to 5 cm / southeast wind, 10-30 km/h / alpine high temperature near -4

WEDNESDAY - Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries / southwest wind, 15-25 km/h / alpine high temperature near -7

THURSDAY - Flurries,10 cm / southeast wind, 30-50 km/h / alpine high temperature near -3 / freezing level 1400 m

Avalanche Summary

There have been reports of a few natural and explosives triggered storm and wind slab avalanches, mostly size 1.5-2 on Sunday and Monday 

A few small (size 1) storm slab avalanches were triggered naturally and by humans on Saturday. They were generally 10 to 20 cm thick and on all aspects.

Snowpack Summary

Around 10 to 30 cm of snow has fallen in the past couple of days. Fresh snow combined with recent moderate winds and relatively warm temperatures will mean that storm slabs have likely formed in many areas. 

A layer of surface hoar buried 80 to 150 cm deep could still be a concern in certain parts of the Selkriks and the northern end of the Monashees. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.
  • Approach steep open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, buried surface hoar may exist.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.