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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 22nd, 2014–Jan 23rd, 2014

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

Regions

South Coast.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud. Freezing levels nearing 2000m with moderate westerly winds. Friday and Saturday: A mix of sun and cloud with light winds and freezing levels over 3000 m. Temperature at 2000m could reach as high as +10 C, but valley bottoms could be slightly cooler.

Avalanche Summary

No significant avalanches have been reported for several days.

Snowpack Summary

Unseasonably warm daytime temperatures and sun-exposure have subjected the snow surface to melt-freeze cycles on lower elevation and sun-exposed slopes. On shady aspects expect to find faceted powder; however, in exposed areas winds have scoured windward slopes, left deep drifts on lee aspects, and and sculpted sastrugi. A facet/crust combo from late November down approximately 100-120 cm at treeline and alpine elevations continues to give sudden results in snowpack tests. Facets and depth hoar at the base of the snowpack remain a concern on slopes with a shallow and variable snowpack in the Duffey Lake and Chilcotin areas.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.