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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 16th, 2025–Jan 17th, 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, 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

North Columbia, South Columbia, Blue River, Premier, Clemina, Esplanade, Jordan, North Monashee, North Selkirk, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla, Whatshan.

The early January weak layer is producing surprising avalanches where wind slabs have formed over it. Seek out sheltered powder and monitor the layer's depth and reactivity as you travel.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday and more sporadically through the week, there have been numerous accidentally triggered wind slab avalanches, mostly small, but occasionally up to size 2.5. One of these larger releases was triggered by skiers entering a couloir on the north side of Mt English on Wednesday. The early January surface hoar (occasionally sitting on a thin crust) has frequently been noted as the failure plane in these avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

Light snow and elevated winds Thursday haven't done much to alter wind-affected surfaces in open areas at all elevations. A skiff of new snow may now cover crusts below treeline and on solar aspects or surface hoar on shaded aspects.

In sheltered terrain, 30 to 40 cm of storm snow has been settling on a layer of weak surface hoar crystals that exists into the alpine. The presence of a slab over these grains has been the main factor determining whether it is a problem. Wind slabs formed over it have been reactive.

A crust/facet/surface hoar layer from early December may be found 90 to 160 cm deep. Activity on this layer has tapered, but it is still factoring into professional assessments in the Selkirks north of Kaslo.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with continuing with scattered flurries bringing less than 5 cm of new snow. 30 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind, easing. Freezing level to valley bottom.

Friday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature falling to -9 °C.

Saturday

Sunny. 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -14 °C.

Sunday

Sunny. 30 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature -14 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been affected by wind.
  • Avoid areas where the snow feels stiff and/or slabby.
  • Be aware of the potential for remote triggering and large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.

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.