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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 9th, 2025–Jan 10th, 2025

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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Vancouver Island, East Island, North Island, South Island, West Island.

Avalanche danger will depend on how much of Thursday night's precipitation falls as snow. Observe and verify conditions as you travel. Be ready to dial it back if you encounter more than 15 cm.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

The most recent reports of avalanche activity were on the weekend. We expect the likelihood of triggering avalanches to remain low.

Snowpack Summary

Overnight precipitation is forecast to start as rain and turn to snow as temperatures drop. Snow accumulation depends on the timing. 0 to 10 cm is likely, but higher amounts are possible, especially at the highest elevations of the north island.

The new snow falls heavy and moist over wet or crusty surfaces, and is expected to bond well.

The rest of the snowpack is well settled and bonded with several crust scattered throughout.

Snowpack depths at treeline average 200 to 300 cm.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with 5 to 20 mm/cm of mixed precipitation; rain turning to snow. 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level dropping 3000 m to 1500 m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy. 40 to 60 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Saturday

Sunny. 40 to 60 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1000 to 2500 m.

Sunday

Sunny. 30 to 50 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1000 to 2500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Make observations and continually assess conditions as you travel.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.
  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.

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.

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.