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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 24th, 2020–Jan 25th, 2020

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

Regions

Cariboos.

Fresh wind slabs in exposed areas will be the primary concern for Saturday, so seek out sheltered low density snow. Ease into steeper terrain cautiously and be prepared to step back if you find signs of instability.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Friday night: Cloudy with easing flurries and a trace to 5 cm of new snow. Light to moderate southwest winds.

Saturday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow. Light to moderate south winds. Alpine high temperatures around -4 with freezing levels to 1400 metres.

Sunday: Clear periods in the morning, becoming cloudy with flurries beginning in the evening. Light to moderate southeast winds, becoming strong at ridgetop. Alpine high temperatures around -4.

Monday: Cloudy with scattered flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow. Light to moderate south winds. Alpine high temperatures around -5.

Avalanche Summary

Early reports from Friday in the south of the region describe ski cutting easily triggering small (size 1) storm slabs to the depth of our recent storm snow, 20-30 cm deep. These were noted on north aspects below treeline.

Looking forward, our recent snow should begin to form a more reliable bond with the old surface while areas of unstable snow become increasingly focused toward wind loaded pockets at higher elevations.

Snowpack Summary

Regular snowfall over the past week brought 20-40 cm of snow to the region. Moderate to strong, mainly south winds over the same period have redistributed much of this snow in the alpine and upper treeline while warm temperatures have promoted slab formation with each snowfall as well as fairly quick transitions to settlement and bonding of the new snow. Surface snow is now moist or wet from warm temperatures, rain or wet flurries up to at least 1500 metres.

There is a layer of surface hoar still being tracked by professionals in the region now buried 60 to 120 cm deep. This layer exists primarily at treeline and below. It has been on a positive strengthening trend, though test results indicate that there is still the potential to trigger it in isolated areas. Check out this MIN report from a few days ago outlining some recent test results on this layer.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect and exposure to wind.

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.