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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 17th, 2025–Jan 18th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Sea To Sky, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Spearhead, Tantalus, Sky Pilot.

Assess for wind slab as you move through terrain.

Lingering wind slabs may remain reactive to human-triggering in isolated locations below alpine ridgetops.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported on Thursday.

Evidence of a natural loose wet avalanche cycle from Wednesday is still visible. These avalanches were triggered by above 0°C temperatures in the alpine and solar radiation. Avalanche activity has subsided with colder temperatures.

Snowpack Summary

A few centimeters of faceting snow covers a melt-freeze crust on all aspects at all elevations. Except on northerly aspects above 1900 m, where soft snow may still be found.

A weak layer of surface hoar or facets is found 10 to 30 cm deep. This layer remains a concern where wind slabs have formed above it. This layer is active in snow pit tests north of the Sea to Sky highway.

An otherwise right-side-up snowpack appears to be bonding well to a crust buried 70 to 100 cm deep. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well-settled and bonded with no layers of concern.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Clear skies. 25 to 45 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.

Saturday

Mostly sunny. 15 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Sunday

Sunny. 25 to 50 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Monday

Mostly sunny. 15 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Wind slabs are isolated, but may remain reactive.
  • The snowpack is generally stable; it may be appropriate to step out into more complex terrain.
  • Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
  • A hard crust on the snow surface will help strengthen the snowpack, but may cause tough travel conditions.

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.