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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 12th, 2025–Jan 13th, 2025

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

Regions

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

Solar input and rising temperatures in the alpine may trigger a natural avalanche cycle on solar slopes.

Avoid steep, rocky, wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday, numerous natural windslab avalanches were reported up to size 2. Several skier-triggered size 1 wind slab avalanches were reported in alpine terrain features. Wind slab avalanches primarily occurred on westerly and southerly aspects between 1700 and 2200 m.

Snowpack Summary

Shifting winds have redistributed 20 cm of snow into wind slabs on various aspects in exposed areas.

This new snow overlies a sun crust on steep south-facing slopes, faceted snow or surface hoar in sheltered areas, and wind-affected surfaces in exposed areas.

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

Sunday Night

Clear. 15 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Monday

Mainly sunny. 25 to 35 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. An above freezing layer develops between 1700 and 2500 m.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud. 15 to 25 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +2 °C. An above freezing layer persists between 1700 and 2500 m.

Wednesday

Mainly sunny. 15 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +4 °C. An above freezing layer persists between 1700 and 2700 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • Limit exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.