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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 17th, 2024–Jan 18th, 2024

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
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.
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, Clearwater, Jordan, Shuswap, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, North Okanagan, Whatshan.

The new snow may form reactive storm slabs, in areas where a slab is not found dry loose avalanches are likely.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, dry loose sluffing from steep slopes and terrain features were seen across the region. Explosive control saw a few storm and wind slab avalanches up to size 1.5 from northeast east-facing terrain above 2300 m.

New storm slabs may be reactive on Thursday, especially in wind affected terrain. Dry loose power sluffing may be the name of the game in most places that are sheltered from the wind.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 25 cm+ of low-density storm snow has buried a variety of snow surfaces. It sits above unconsolidated faceted snow, surface hoar and firm wind-pressed snow in open terrain at treeline and above.

Down 60-80 cm, a crust, facet and or surface hoar layer exists. This may become a problem once the snow above starts to stiffen and form a slab.

130+ cm down another surface hoar layer exists that was buried in early December. This seems to be of most concern above 2000 m where a robust crust doesn't exist above it.

Weak basal facets are likely to be found on the ground in shallow snowpack areas.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with some flurries, ridgetop wind 15-20 km/h from the east, treeline temperatures near -15 C.

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud, ridgetop wind 10-15 km/h from the southeast and treeline temperatures near -10 C.

Friday

Mix of sun and cloud with light snowfall amounts, ridgetop wind 10-20 km/h from the southwest, treeline temperature -7 C.

Saturday

New snow 5-10 cm, ridgetop winds light from the southwest, treeline temperatures near -3 C. Freezing levels 1600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Don't be too cavalier with decision making, storm slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering.
  • Be aware of the potential for larger than expected storm slabs due to the presence of buried surface hoar.
  • Be carefull with sluffing in steep terrain, especially above cliffs and terrain traps.

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.