Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 8th, 2022–Jan 9th, 2022

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

Regions

Northwest Inland.

Snowfall may be taper today but human triggering remains likely. Head out with a conservative mindset and avoid wind-loaded areas.

 If you see greater than 25 cm of new snow, treat the avalanche danger as HIGH.

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast precipitation (either snow or rain) amounts are uncertain.

Weather Forecast

A juicy warm front impacting the coast will bring heavy snowfall overnight on Saturday, strong southwest winds and rising temperatures.

Saturday Overnight: Heavy snowfall, 10-25 cm accumulation. Strong southwest winds. Alpine temperatures rising to -10 C

Sunday: Snowfall easing, 2-10 cm accumulation, heaviest in the afternoon. Strong to extreme southwest winds. Alpine temperatures around -8 C.

Monday: Light snowfall, up to 5 cm accumulation. Strong to extreme southwest winds. Freezing levels rising to 300 m.

Tuesday: Continued snowfall, up to 5 cm accumulation. Strong southwest winds. Freezing levels at 300 m.

Avalanche Summary

Observations have been limited. If you are out in the mountains, let us know what you see by filling out a Mountain Information Network report!

Snowpack Summary

Overnight, snowfall and strong southwest winds will have created fresh, reactive storm slabs.

This storm's 10-30 cm of new snow overlies a previously wind-affected surface comprised of old hard wind slabs, sastrugi, and areas stripped back to the ground or old crusts. Near-surface faceting above the old surface may increase the reactivity of newly formed storm slabs.

The base of the snowpack is composed of crusts and weak faceted grains, particularly in thin snowpack areas. While these layers have generally gone dormant in the region, they still have the possibility of waking up with new snow load or warming, and wind slab avalanches may still have the potential to step down to these deeper layers in isolated areas. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Storm snow and wind is forming touchy slabs. Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline.
  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
  • Carefully monitor the bond between the new snow and old surface.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.