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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 22nd, 2019–Jan 23rd, 2019

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

Regions

South Coast Inland.

Recent snowfall means that storm slabs are likely widespread and may be susceptible to human triggering, especially at upper elevations.

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY NIGHT - Snow, 10-20 cm / southwest winds, 20-30 km/h / alpine low temperature near -3 / freezing level 800 mWEDNESDAY - Mainly cloudy / northwest winds, 10-20 km/h / alpine high temperature near -2 / Freezing level 1200 mTHURSDAY - Cloudy with sunny periods / west winds, 15-30 km/h / alpine high temperature near -1 / freezing level 1500 m / possible alpine temperature inversionFRIDAY - Cloudy with sunny periods / light west winds / alpine high temperature near 0 / freezing level 1000 m / possible alpine temperature inversion

Avalanche Summary

A few size 1 human triggered avalanches were reported in the region on Tuesday.No new avalanches were reported in the region on Monday.A few small (size 1) wind slab avalanches were triggered naturally in the region on Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20 cm of new snow on Tuesday night brings recent snowfall amounts to approximately 30 to 60 cm. The highest snowfall amounts have been around the Coquihalla area. Moderate to strong southwest winds have redistributed the snow, forming storm slabs. The recent snow fell onto a sun crust on southerly aspects, a melt-freeze crust below approximately 1700 m on all aspects, and surface hoar (feathery crystals) in areas sheltered from the wind at all elevations. The recent snow may not bond well to these layers.Below this, the snowpack is generally well settled. In certain parts of the region, you may still find a weak layer of surface hoar buried about 60 to 100 cm in sheltered areas around treeline. This layer was recently triggered by a skier in the north of the region (see here). In the south of the region, snowpack tests suggest that avalanches could still be triggered within the layer (see here).

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.