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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 25th, 2024–Jan 26th, 2024

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

Regions

Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla, Whatshan.

Recent snow has been most reactive in wind-loaded terrain features. Buried weak layers continue to be an active avalanche problem.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Storm slabs and persistent slabs have been reactive in recent days, both naturally and to human triggers. Storm slabs have shown high sensitivity with wide propagation and remote triggers, averaging size 1.5-2. Persistent slab avalanches have been large, size 2-3.

Snowpack Summary

Ongoing flurries continue to accumulate. 30-50 cm of recent snow sits on facets formed during the mid January cold snap. At upper elevations, this snow has been redistributed by wind.

A few layers of note exist in the mid snowpack. Another crust/facet/surface hoar layer buried in early January is now 60-90 cm deep. A layer of surface hoar buried in early December is now 130+ cm deep. This layer is of most concern above 2000 m where a robust crust doesn't exist above it.

Weather Summary

Thursday night

Around 5 cm of new snow. Southwest alpine wind 40 km/h. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with scattered flurries bring a trace of new snow. Southwest alpine wind 30-40 km/h. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with flurries brining a few cm of new snow. Southwest alpine wind 30-40 km/h. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with around 10 mm of mixed precip. Southwest alpine wind 40-50 km/h. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.
  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Potential for wide propagation exists, fresh slabs may rest on surface hoar, facets and/or crust.

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.