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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 23rd, 2023–Jan 24th, 2023

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

Regions

South Coast Inland, Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, Stein, Taseko.

Watch for wind slabs in wind-exposed areas on all aspects at higher elevations.

Manage uncertainty surrounding weak layers with conservative terrain selection and good travel habits.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Although avalanche activity has subsided, reported avalanche activity since Jan 13 indicates the potential of the deeper weak layers buried in the snowpack. The Hurley has been the bulls-eye for avalanche activity on persistent weak layers in the middle and bottom of the snowpack.

Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

The region's generally weak snowpack structure remains.

10-20 cm of storm snow sits over wind-affected surfaces at higher elevations and a crust at lower elevations.

A weak layer that formed in late December can be found 50-100 cm deep. In the Hurley and Birkenhead areas it may present as surface hoar sitting on a crust and can be found between 1700 and 1900m in elevation. The crust varies in thickness with terrain and elevation; in many places it's more of a soft and weak section of the snowpack.

There is a widespread weak layer of facets and depth hoar at the bottom of the snowpack. Snowpack depths around treeline are highly variable and range between 150 - 230 cm.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Cloudy skies. Westerly ridgetop winds of 20 km/h. Overnight temperature low -7C. Freezing level of 500 m.

Tuesday

Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Westerly ridge top winds 20 km/h gusting 30 km/h. 1500m temperature high of -2C. Freezing levels rise to 1000 m during the day. 

Wednesday

Sunny with cloudy periods. Light westerly winds occasionally gusting to 30 km/h. 1500m temperature high of +2C. An above freezing layer is present between 1500-2800m.

Thursday

Cloudy with sunny periods. Light westerly winds occasionally gusting to 30 km/h. 1500m temperature high of +1C. An above freezing layer is present between 1500-2800m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices at this time.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Problems

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.

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.