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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 12th, 2023–Jan 13th, 2023

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
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.

Regions

Coquihalla, Harrison-Fraser, Manning, Skagit.

Dangerous avalanche conditions persist as heavy precipitation and rising freezing levels continue.

Choose simple, low-angle, well-supported terrain with no overhead hazard.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported in the region. Backcountry users should expect to see evidence of an avalanche cycle from within the storm at all elevations. Evidence of old loose wet avalanches and glide avalanches from last weekend may still be visible.

Please post your observations and photos to the Mountain Information Network. It helps strengthen our data gathering.

Snowpack Summary

+20 cm storm snow and strong southerly winds are building storm slabs build where snow remains dry. New snow overlies previously wind-affected surfaces on south and east-facing slopes. Between 1000 and 1500 m new snow overlies a melt-freeze crust. The snowpack is saturated by rain at lower elevations.

The mid-snowpack is well-settled. The lower snowpack consists of several crusts with weak faceted crystals above and below that are beginning to heal and bond to each other.

Snowpack depths are roughly 145 to 185 cm at treeline and taper rapidly below 1500 m.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Stormy, up to 10-20 mm expected. Extreme southerly ridge winds gusting 80-100 km/h. A high of +2C at treeline. Freezing levels rise to 2000-2300 m.

Friday

Stormy, 10-15 mm. Extreme southerly ridge winds gusting 80-100 km/h. A high of 0C at treeline. Freezing levels drop through the day to 1500-1800 m.

By evening the storm subsides easing winds and precip.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Moderate southwesterly winds gusting 30-50 km/h. A high of +2C at treeline. freezing levels drop to 1500 m.

Sunday

A mix of sun and cloud. Light variable winds gusting 20 km/h. A high of 0C at treeline. Freezing levels continue dropping to 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Minimize exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind or rain.
  • Storm snow and wind is forming touchy slabs. Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline.
  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.

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.

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.