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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 22nd, 2024–Jan 23rd, 2024

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 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.

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Clearwater, Jordan, Shuswap, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, North Okanagan, Valhalla, Whatshan.

Watch for signs of instability as warm temperatures and continued snowfall will create storm slabs.

Weak layers deeper in the snowpack may become more reactive as temperatures rise.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Over the weekend, numerous rider triggered wind slabs and storm slabs (size 1 and 2) were reported on many aspects at all elevations.

Around the Sicamous area, natural and remote triggered avalanches were reported up to size 2, and were likely triggerd by warm temperatures.

On Friday, explosive avalanche control generally produced size 1 to 2 wind slabs, with one step down avalanche that was size 2.5 on a north aspect at treeline.

Snowpack Summary

30 to 50 cm of recent snow from the last two storms is settling fast with warm temperatures. This snow has buried a variety of snow surfaces including unconsolidated faceted snow, surface hoar and firm wind-pressed snow in open terrain at treeline and above.

Down 60 to 80 cm, a crust, facet and or surface hoar layer exists.

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

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Cloudy with 5-10 cm of snow, southwest alpine wind 20-50 km/h, treeline temperature -2 °C. In the Silver Star area possibility of freezing rain.

Tuesday

Cloudy with 5-10 cm of snow, southwest alpine wind 20-30 km/h, treeline temperature 0 °C, freezing levels up to 1600 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow, southwest alpine wind 20-50 km/h, treeline temperature -2 °C, freezing levels up to 1500 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with up to 3 cm of snow, south alpine wind 10-30 km/h, treeline temperature 0 °C, freezing levels up to 1500 m.

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More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
  • Watch for changing conditions today, storm slabs may become increasingly reactive.

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.