Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 14th, 2024–Jan 15th, 2024

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

Kootenay Boundary, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, South Okanagan, Ymir, Crawford, Moyie, St. Mary, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla.

Variable winds are redistributing available snow into thin wind slabs. Watch for signs of instability; shooting cracks, hollow sounds and recent avalanches as you move through the terrain

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday, two natural storm slab avalanches were reported up to size 2 on alpine terrain features.

On Friday, a skier triggered a size 2, storm slab avalanche on a southeast aspect at 2200 m northwest of Slocan Lake. Near Whitewater Peak a naturally triggered size one avalanche was observed at 2250m on a north aspect.

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

Snowpack Summary

In the past week, as much as 70 cm of snow has accumulated in some areas. This new snow has buried a variety of old surfaces, including surface hoar on sheltered, north-facing terrain and a sun crust on south-facing slopes.

The middle of the snowpack contains a series of old melt freeze-crusts.

A thick crust deep in the snowpack largely protects any weak layers further down in the snowpack from being triggered.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Clear skies with no precipitation, primarily northerly alpine wind 10 to 25 km/h, treeline temperature -18 °C.

Monday

Mainly sunny with no precipitation, northwest alpine wind 10 to 20 km/h, treeline temperature -15 °C.

Tuesday

Partly cloudy with isolated flurries, trace amounts of snow, southwest alpine wind 10 to 25 km/h, treeline temperature -14 °C.

Wednesday

Cloudy with scattered flurries, 8 to 12 cm of snow, southwest alpine wind 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -13 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.
Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
Potential for wide propagation exists, fresh slabs may rest on surface hoar, facets and/or crust.

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.

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.