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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 16th, 2021–Jan 17th, 2021

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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Coast Inland.

Watch for residual wind slabs that may be sensitive to human triggers. With a high degree of uncertainty around deep layers in a complex snowpack, this may not be the time to dive into ultra committing lines.

Confidence

Moderate - Recent weather patterns have resulted in a high degree of snowpack variability within the region.

Weather Forecast

Saturday night: Flurries, trace, moderate to strong southwest wind, freezing level 800 m.

Sunday: Flurries, trace, moderate northwest wind, freezing level 1000 m.

Monday: Sunny, light northwest ridgetop wind, freezing level 1000 m.

Tuesday: Mix of sun and cloud, southwest ridgetop wind building to strong, freezing level 800 m.

Avalanche Summary

Natural cornice falls up to size 2 have been observed recently. Explosive control work on Friday produced wind slab avalanches up to size 2. 

A widespread natural avalanche cycle size 2-3 occurred throughout the region on Wednesday. Avalanche character was predominantly storm slab in the snowy north of the region and wet loose or glide slab in the rainy south. Northwest of Pemberton, several stepped down to buried weak layers resulting in very large (size 3-4) persistent slab avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

  • In the south of the region, fluctuating freezing levels during the last storm have resulted in a crust to ridgecrest. At upper elevations, 5-10 cm of dry snow has been blown around by the wind, exposing the crust in some areas and building wind slabs ontop of it in others. This MIN report from Nak Peak on Thursday depicts snow conditions changing with elevation.

  • In the north, variable wind effect in the alpine includes scoured windward aspects, sastrugi, hard slab, wind pressed surfaces over lower density snow and isolated pockets of soft snow in sheltered areas. Wind slabs may remain sensitive where they overlie a spotty layer of surface hoar in sheltered terrain or a crust on solar aspects. A widespread surface crust exists below 1600 m.
  • A melt-freeze crust from early December is found around 200 cm deep in the snowpack. This crust may have sugary faceted grains sitting above it. This persistent weak layer is most prevalent in the North, northwest of Pemberton where large avalanches have failed on this interface recently. This interface doesn’t seem to be a concern in the South (Coquihalla) and little information is known for the North Cascades or far South in Manning Park.

Terrain and Travel

  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to the presence of buried weak layers.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.