Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 25th, 2024–Jan 26th, 2024

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

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, human triggered possible.

Regions

Coquihalla, Harrison-Fraser, Manning, Skagit.

Assess surface conditions as you gain elevation. Where dry snow is found, small wind slabs are possible . Where the snow surface is wet, loose avalanches are likely.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Wet loose avalanches continue to be observed in steep terrain at treeline and below.

Snowpack Summary

In the alpine precipitation has been falling as snow and forming wind slabs on northerly aspects. At treeline and below a crust will likely be found on the surface that will break down throughout the day and become moist.

The mid and lower snowpack contain several crusts that are not concerning. The snowpack remains shallow for this time of year.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Mostly cloudy with up to 5 cm of new snow expected, south alpine wind 30 to 50 km/h, freezing level around 1000 m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with up to 5 mm of mixed precipitation expected, south alpine wind 30 to 50 km/h, freezing level rising to 2000 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with up to 5 mm of rain expected, south alpine wind 40 to 50 km/h, freezing level rising to 2400 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with up to 10 mm of rain expected, southwest alpine wind 50 to 70 km/h, freezing level rising to 2600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
Even a small avalanche can be harmful if it pushes you into an obstacle or a terrain trap.

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.