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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 26th, 2024–Jan 27th, 2024

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

Regions

North Rockies, Sugarbowl, East Kakwa, Kakwa, McGregor, Renshaw, Robson, Tumbler.

Wind slabs sitting over a weak layer may become increasingly reactive as temperatures start to rise this weekend.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A few wind slab avalanches were reported east of Prince George on Thursday. They were skier-controlled size 1.5 on steep north-facing convex rolls, running on the January facet layer.

Observations are limited in the region. If you go out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Snowpack Summary

Recent snow has been redistributed by wind at upper elevations. At lower elevations, a thin crust or moist snow may be found at the surface.

20-40 cm of snow sits over a layer of facets formed during the mid January cold snap. Bonding at this interface varies through the region.

A prominent crust is found 30 to 50 cm deep. It extends up to 1900 m in the Cariboos and up to 1400 m around Pine Pass. In the Sugarbowl area, a layer of small surface hoar or facets has been observed near the crust.

The midpack is generally strong and well bonded, except for areas east of the Divide, where the snowpack is shallow and faceted with depths of 60 to 100 cm around treeline.

Weather Summary

Friday night

Mostly cloudy with flurries bringing a trace to 5 cm of snow. Southwest alpine wind 30-50 km/h. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud. Southwest alpine wind 30-50 km/h. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Sunday

Up to 10 cm overnight then a mix of sun and cloud. Southwest alpine wind 40-60 km/h. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud. Southwest alpine wind 50-70 km/h. Treeline temperature +5 °C. Freezing level 2500-3000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Extra caution for areas experiencing rapidly warming temperatures for the first time.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.

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.