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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 7th, 2023–Jan 8th, 2023

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

Regions

Cariboos, North Rockies, Clearwater, McBride, Quesnel, Sugarbowl, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson, Tumbler.

Watch for wind loaded rocky start zones where the snowpack varies from thick to to thin. Weak layers are more easily triggered here.

Read the latest forecaster blog for more information on managing buried weak layers.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A natural size 1.5 wind slab was reported on a west facing slope on Friday. Reports are limited throughout the North Cariboos and North Rockies, but we expect small human triggered wind slabs to be possible in most areas.

No recent avalanche activity has been reported on the persistent weak layers in the region. However, there continues to be ongoing spooky snowpack test results that continue to support a conservative approach to terrain.

Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

30 to 60 cm of surface snow is found in areas sheltered from the wind, which sits over a generally weak, facetted snowpack with multiple buried weak layers. Wind-exposed terrain has been affected from strong southerly winds, leaving firm surfaces Wind slabs may be found in lee terrain features, which may sit over a layer of surface hoar and/or crust.

Two layers of concern exist in this snowpack:

  • A layer of facets, crust and surface hoar that was buried around Christmas and found around 30 to 60 cm from the surface.

  • A layer of large, weak facets buried in November and found near the bottom of the snowpack. This layer is likely most problematic in alpine terrain, where shallower avalanches could scrub down to these basal facets. These layers may persist for some time, as described in our Forecasters' blog.

Snowpack depths are roughly 100 to 175 cm at treeline.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Light snowfall in the south, up to 3 cm. Freezing levels around 500m. Moderate southerly winds.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with up to 4 cm of snowfall. Moderate southerly winds. Alpine high of -3 °C. Freezing levels reach 1200 m in the afternoon.

Monday

Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Light to moderate southerly wind. Alpine highs of -3, freezing levels reach 1200 m in the south.

Tuesday

Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Light southerly wind. Alpine highs of -5, freezing levels around 500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

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.

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.