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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 1st, 2024–Feb 2nd, 2024

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

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Jordan, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Whatshan.

Mushy snow remains down low, up high it will be crusty.

Thin slabs may exist and wet avalanches could persist.

Travel conditions will be tricky, trust me.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

The natural avalanche cycle observed on the weekend and earlier in the week due to the warming event has begun to taper with cooling temperatures. Numerous large (size 2-3.5) wet slab, persistent slab, and wet loose avalanches have been reported from all aspects and elevations.

Snowpack Summary

Moist or crusty snow surfaces exist from recent rain and warm temperatures. Up to 10 cm of new snow may overlie a crust in the alpine. At lower elevations the snowpack is isothermal.

The stress of the new load (warm, wet upper snowpack) has producing large slab avalanches failing down to the early/mid January persistent weak crust/facet layer (30-70 cm down) and the early December rain crust/ facet layer (100+ cm down). This activity is expected to taper with cooling temperatures.

The snowpack depth is roughly 150 cm at treeline.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with light rain or snow, up to 5 mm. Alpine wind south 15 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature 0 °C, freezing level 1800 m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with light rain or snow, less than 5 mm. Alpine wind southwest 10 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature -1 °C, freezing level 1700 m.

Saturday

Mainly cloudy with light flurries, up to 5 cm accumulation. Alpine wind northwest 15 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperature -3 °C. freezing level dropping to 1000 m.

Sunday

Mainly cloudy with light flurries, up to 5 cm accumulation. Alpine wind southwest 10 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature -4 °C. freezing level dropping to 500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • A crust on the surface will help bind the snow together, but may make for tough travel conditions.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • Keep in mind that wet avalanches can be destructive due to their high density.

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.

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.