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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 30th, 2021–Jan 31st, 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 possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Northwest Coastal.

Moderate southerly wind will redistribute the new snow and create fresh wind slabs in lee terrain features in the alpine and at exposed treeline. Older wind slabs built by easterly and northerly outflow winds might still be reactive and harder to recognize. 

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with clear periods, up to 5 cm new snow, moderate southeast wind, treeline temperature -8 C.

SUNDAY: Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries, up to 5 cm new snow, moderate south wind, treeline temperature -6 C.

MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, 3 cm new snow, moderate southwest wind, treeline temperature -8 C.

TUESDAY: Mainly cloudy, 10-15 cm new snow, moderate southwest wind, treeline temperature -8 C.

Avalanche Summary

On Friday, several wind slab avalanches were triggered by skiers on southerly aspects (see this MIN report). Wind slab avalanches up to size 2 were triggered with explosives in the north of the region. A few wind slab avalanches up to size 2 released naturally in the alpine on westerly aspects on Thursday. These wind slabs were likely formed by the northerly and easterly outflow winds on previous days. Recent glide snow avalanche activity was reported on Wednesday. 

Snowpack Summary

10-35 cm of recent snow sits on a crust below 1000 m and surface hoar in sheltered locations at and below treeline. The layers in the mid and base of the snowpack have gained strength with high snowfall amounts in January. Deeper layers appear to have gone inactive in the southern part of the region. However, in the northern part of the region (e.g. Bear Pass, Ningunsaw) there has still been regular avalanche activity on weak snow at the bottom of the snowpack with large loads such as explosives or cornice collapses.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
  • Watch your sluff: it may run faster and further than you expect.

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.