Avalanche forecast

North Columbia

Jan 11, 2019Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Warming this weekend will elevate the avalanche danger. Pay particular attention to sun affected slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2.5
    New snow and wind have promoted new wind slab formation. Use added caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain features near ridges.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2.5–3.5
    There have been a few recent avalanches on deeper layers in the snowpack. The likelihood of triggering a deeper layer will increase with anticipated warm weather.

Weather Forecast

THURSDAY NIGHT: Dry, cooling overnight.FRIDAY: Dry with a mix of sun and cloud. Freezing levels rising to around 1500 m. Alpine temperatures around -2C. Light southerly winds.SATURDAY: Dry and sunny. Inverted conditions with an above freezing layer between 1800m and 2400m. Light southerly winds.SUNDAY: Dry and sunny. Inverted conditions with an above freezing layer between 1800m and 2400m. Light southwesterly winds.

Confidence

Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain

Avalanche Summary

A size 3-3.5 persistent slab avalanche was skier triggered on the north side of the highway in Glacier National Park on Tuesday. This was triggered from a thin spot on the ridge at 2250 m on a south east aspect It ran to the valley bottom and is suspected to have run on a layer of surface hoar sitting on a crust that was buried in late November. See the MIN post here. The onset of warmer weather may increase the likelihood of triggering a large avalanche.

Snowpack Summary

Although the recent new snow has now ended, wind slabs are likely still reactive in lee and cross-loaded terrain features at higher elevations. This new snow has fallen on widespread wind-affected snow at alpine and treeline elevations. Below this, the snowpack is generally well-settled. There is however, a layer of feathery surface hoar that is sitting on a crust that was buried late November down 100-200 cm. This crust is suspected to be the bed surface for few very large avalanches over the past several days on southwest through southeast aspects in this region.

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