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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 8th, 2023–Jan 9th, 2023

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

South Coast, North Shore, Sasquatch, Tetrahedron.

Watch for changing conditions as the overnight storm on Sunday delivers more snow / rain.

Forecast winds are expected to form fresh wind slabs at higher elevations.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported since Thursday. Please continue to post your observations and photos to the Mountain Information Network. It helps strengthen our data gathering.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15 mm of precipitation (wet snow or rain) has fallen into the region Sunday. At treeline, 30-40 cm of moist snow is overlying a supportive crust formed late December. At the higher elevation, dry snow may be found. As the freezing level falls, a new crust will form on all aspects at treeline. Below treeline, the snow surface will likely remain moist and saturated.

Weather Summary

A series of frontal bands will generate periods of moderate snowfalls Sunday night and Monday night. The heaviest precipitation will fall along upslope regions of the South Coast. Overcast skies and dry conditions are expected Tuesday and Wednesday.

Sunday night

Stormy, 10-20 cm of new snow expected at higher elevations, rain at treeline and below, moderate southeast winds gusting 50 km/h, freezing levels around 1200 m, low of +0C at treeline.

Monday

5-10 cm of new snow expected at higher elevations, rain at treeline and below, moderate southeast winds gusting at 60 km/h, freezing levels rising to 1400 m, high of +2C at treeline. Additional 20-30 mm overnight.

Tuesday

Mainly cloudy, no precipitation, moderate southeasterly winds gusting 50 km/h, freezing levels around 1200 m, high of +2C at treeline.

Wednesday

2-5 cm of new snow expected at higher elevations, rain at treeline and below, moderate southeasterly winds gusting 50 km/h, freezing levels around 1400 m, high of -2C at treeline.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
  • Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.

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.