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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 24th, 2023–Jan 25th, 2023

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 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.

Regions

South Coast Inland, Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, Stein, Taseko.

An above-freezing layer is promoting settling in the upper snowpack at alpine and treeline through the day. Watch for increased signs of instability such as natural avalanches as stability deteriorates with warm temperatures.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been reported from this region.

There have not been any persistent slab avalanches reported since January 13. At that time the persistent weak layer was most reactive in the central and northern parts of the region, particularly around Hurley and Birkenhead.

Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

The region's generally weak snowpack structure remains.

10-20 cm of storm snow sits over wind-affected surfaces at higher elevations and a crust below 1800 m.

A weak layer that formed in late December can be found 50-100 cm deep. In the Hurley and Birkenhead areas it may present as surface hoar sitting on a crust and can be found between 1700 and 1900m in elevation. The crust varies in thickness with terrain and elevation; in many places it's more of a soft and weak section of the snowpack.

There is a widespread weak layer of facets and depth hoar at the bottom of the snowpack. Snowpack depths around treeline are highly variable and range between 150 - 230 cm.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy. Northwesterly ridge top winds 20 km/h gusting 40 km/h. 1500m temperature low of -3C. An above freezing layer develops from 1500 - 2500 m by morning. 

Wednesday

Sunny with cloudy periods. Light northwesterly winds occasionally gusting to 25 km/h. 1500m temperature high of +2C. An above freezing layer is present between 1500-2600m.

Thursday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Moderate northwesterly winds occasionally gusting to 40 km/h. 1500m temperature high of +1C. An above freezing layer is present between 1500-2600m.

Friday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Light westerly winds occasionally gusting to 30 km/h. 1500m temperature high of -2C. Freezing level of 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Problems

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.

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.

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.