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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 14th, 2024–Jan 15th, 2024

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

Regions

Lizard-Flathead, Akamina, Flathead, Lizard.

Northerly winds are redistributing low-density snow into wind slabs. Watch for signs of instability; shooting cracks, hollow sounds and recent avalanches as you move through the terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported this weekend perhaps in part due to cold temperatures keeping operators and many users out of the backcountry.

On Friday, natural wind slab and storm slab avalanches were observed up to size 2.5.

If you go out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Snowpack Summary

Northerly winds at all elevations have redistributed roughly 30 to 60 cm of low-density snow. This new snow has buried various old surfaces, including surface hoar in sheltered alpine terrain and sun-crusts on steep south-facing terrain.

The mid and lower snowpack is generally well bonded with a series of crusts and facetted snow.

The average snow depth at treeline is approximately 70 to 150 cm.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Clear skies with no precipitation, northwest alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -25 °C.

Monday

Sunny with no precipitation, northwest alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -20 °C.

Tuesday

Partly cloudy with isolated flurries, trace amounts of snow, west alpine wind 30 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -16 °C.

Wednesday

Cloudy with scattered flurries, 7 to 10 cm of snow, southwest alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -14 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Avoid lee and cross-loaded slopes at and above treeline.
  • Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.