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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 21st, 2024–Jan 22nd, 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 possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Clearwater, Jordan, Shuswap, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, North Okanagan, Valhalla, Whatshan.

Warm temperatures will increase slab properties of the surface snow, watch for signs of instability.

Weak layers deeper in the snowpack may become more reactive as temperatures rise.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Over the weekend, a few small (size 1) rider triggered wind slabs and storm slabs were reported on many aspects both at treeline and in the alpine. Around the Sicamous area, natural and remote triggered avalanches were reported up to size 2, and were likely triggerd by warm temperatures.

On Friday, explosive avalanche control generally produced size 1 to 2 wind slabs, with one step down avalanche that was size 2.5 on a north aspect at treeline.

Snowpack Summary

30 to 50 cm of recent snow from the last two storms has settled and is now closer to 20 to 30 cm. This snow has buried a variety of snow surfaces including unconsolidated faceted snow, surface hoar and firm wind-pressed snow in open terrain at treeline and above.

Down 60 to 80 cm, a crust, facet and or surface hoar layer exists.

130+ cm down another surface hoar layer exists that was buried in early December. This layer is of most concern above 2000 m where a robust crust doesn't exist above it.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Cloudy with up to 3 cm of snow, south alpine wind 10-40 km/h, treeline temperature -2 C.

Monday

Cloudy with up to 3 cm of snow, south alpine wind 10-30 km/h, treeline temperature 0 °C.

Tuesday

Cloudy with 10-20 cm of snow, south alpine wind 10-30 km/h, treeline temperature 0 °C, freezing levels up to 1600 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow, southwest alpine wind 20-50 km/h, treeline temperature -1 C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.