Avalanche Conditions for BC
I will try to post these every Thursday as I
get them.
Thank you to the Canadian Avalanche Association for the bi-weekly E-mail
Avalanche Forecast Issued: January 13, 2007 South Coast Avalanche Forecast Date/Time issued: Valid until: Friday, January 12, 2007 at 3:00 PM Monday, January 15, 2007 This forecast includes the southern Coast and northern Cascade Mountain ranges of BC. This region includes mountain areas in the Squamish to Pemberton corridor, the eastern Coast range from Lilloet through the Fraser Canyon to Hope, the Coquihalla and Manning Park areas and mountain areas adjacent to the Fraser Valley. This region does not include the Vancouver North Shore Mountains or Vancouver Island. This region services backcountry recreationists from Vancouver, Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton, Lillooet, Lytton, Hope, Princeton and the Fraser Valley as well as other visitors to southwest BC. Forecast of avalanche danger Friday, January 12, 2007 Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Alpine Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Treeline Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Below Treeline Low Low Low Low Avalanche Awareness Days 2007 are coming to a mountain town near you this weekend! For more information visit www.avalanche.ca. The Canadian Avalanche Centre issued a Special Public Avalanche Warning on Thursday January 11. Further information is available on our website here. Travel Advisory: After weeks of stormy winter weather, cold and clear conditions have settled into the region. Strong, variable winds during and after the last storm have affected many slopes at treeline and above, leaving a surface that varies from scoured to hard and soft wind slabs. The stability of such variable slabs for rider triggering is unpredictable in location, size, and timing, especially when cold weather inhibits bonding of the slabs to the underlying snowpack. Avalanche conditions are improving, but maybe not in the usual rapid coastal style. Watch for a snow surface in transition from scoured to wind-loaded, especially on terrain features above steep convex slopes and along cross-loaded ribs and gullies. Whumphing and cracking are also important warning signs. Be aware that wind deposited slabs may be sitting lower in the start zones than expected. According to the Special Public Avalanche Warning issued for this weekend, minimize time in the tracks and runout zones of big avalanche paths that face north or east. Avoid cornices that grew in recent storms and are getting brittle in the cold. Avalanche Activity: At treeline and above, variable hard and soft windslabs may remain reactive to human triggering through the forecast period. It may be possible to trigger soft slabs on steep convex terrain below treeline where recent snow overlies a buried crust. Where there is soft snow on steeper terrain, it is sluffing fast, so practice heads-up sluff management when making turns. Snowpack: The surface snowpack at treeline and above shows a variety of wind effects, from hard and soft slabs to scouring. This is where the chief concerns for triggering avalanches lie, with several layers yielding sudden failures in snowpack tests. The lower snowpack is deep and well-consolidated. Weather: Through the forecast period, expect light to moderate winds out of a northerly direction, nil to light snowfalls, and freezing levels at the surface. Issued by: Tom Chalmers -------------------------------------------------------------------------- This forecast sponsored by: -------------------------------------------------------------------- North Columbia Avalanche Forecast Date/Time issued: Valid until: Friday, January 12, 2007 at 4:00 PM Monday, January 15, 2007 This forecast includes the northern Columbia Mountains, including the northern Monashee, Cariboo and Selkirk Mountain ranges. This region includes areas north & east of Kamloops east of the Fraser Plateau north to Prince George, the Cariboos and Selkirks west of the Rocky Mountain trench between McBride & Golden and areas north of Highway 1 between Kamloops & Golden. This region does not include Glacier National Park. This region services backcountry recreationists from Kamloops, Quesnel, Prince George, McBride, Valemont, Salmon Arm, Revelstoke, Blue River and Golden, as well as other visitors to southeastern and central BC. Forecast of avalanche danger Friday, January 12, 2007 Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Alpine Considerable Considerable Considerable Considerable Treeline Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Below Treeline Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Avalanche Awareness Days 2007 is coming to a mountain town near you this weekend! For more information visit www.avalanche.ca. The Canadian Avalanche Centre issued a Special Public Avalanche Warning on Thursday January 11. Further information is available on our website here. Travel Advisory: Careful use of terrain will be particularly important for the next while, as the CAC is still getting reports of super-sized avalanches. These are widely distributed around the region, infrequent and impossible to predict on a slope to slope basis. The best way to use terrain to your advantage is to avoid areas where these large avalanches could occur. Stay out of avalanche paths, or cross them one at a time and quickly if you must. Avoid large, steep, open features in the alpine. Keep your party away from terrain traps like gullies, places under cornices or slopes where an avalanche would carry you into trees or rocks or over a cliff. It's Avalanche Awareness Days across Canada this weekend. There is likely an event near you where you can find out more about the Avaluator, a new tool that will help you enjoy years of safe fun in the mountains. Avalanche Activity: Some smaller avalanches from failures of shallow wind slabs are being reported in the alpine. Reports of widely distributed, infrequent large avalanches of size 3 or greater are still coming in from observers. The potential for these large avalanches will continue throughout the weekend. Snowpack: The snowpack surface is still suffering from the affects of wind, with soft and hard slabs frequently found in the alpine and at treeline. A layer of surface hoar down 110 to 135cm is still a moderate to hard sudden planar failure in snowpack tests. Weather: Clear, cold and dry conditions will prevail this weekend. A weak disturbance will track through on Saturday, giving a mix of sun and cloud, light to moderate NW winds, and up to 5cm of snowfall. Issued by: evan manners -------------------------------------------------------------------------- This forecast sponsored by: -------------------------------------------------------------------- South Columbia Avalanche Forecast Date/Time issued: Valid until: Friday, January 12, 2007 at 3:00 PM Monday, January 15, 2007 This forecast includes the southern Columbia Mountain range, including the eastern Okanagan Valley, Monashee, Selkirk and Purcell Mountain ranges. This region includes the eastern side of the Okanagan Valley from Osoyoos to Enderby, areas south of Highway 1 from Sicamous to Golden, areas west of the Columbia River between Golden & Kimberley, and areas north of Kaslo and northwest of Castlegar. This region does not include Glacier National Park. This region services backcountry recreationists from the Okanagan, west and east Kootenays, Nakusp, Revelstoke, Golden and Invermere areas, as well as other visitors to southeastern BC. Forecast of avalanche danger Friday, January 12, 2007 Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Alpine Considerable Considerable Considerable Considerable Treeline Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Below Treeline Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Avalanche Awareness Days 2007 is coming to a mountain town near you this weekend! For more information visit www.avalanche.ca. The Canadian Avalanche Centre issued a Special Public Avalanche Warning on Thursday January 11. Further information is available on our website here. Travel Advisory: The primary concern right now is a mid snowpack layer of weak crystals that is still causing some super-sized avalanches, although these events are rare. We're faced with the simple fact that an avalanche is unlikely right now, but if it happens it will most likely be very large and dangerous. How do we deal with this? Ask a snow professional that question and the likely answer will be, "Use the terrain to your advantage." Stay away from steep, large, open features in the alpine. Stay out of avalanche paths, or cross them one at a time and quickly if you must. Avoid terrain traps like gullies, places under cornices or slopes where an avalanche would carry you into trees or rocks or over a cliff. It's Avalanche Awareness Days across Canada this weekend. There is likely an event near you where you can find out more about the Avaluator, a new tool that will help expand your potential to have safe fun in the mountains. Avalanche Activity: Some smaller avalanches have been reported in the alpine. Perhaps more important are reports of widely distributed, infrequent, large avalanches of size 3 or greater. The potential for these large avalanches will continue throughout the weekend. Snowpack: Some wind slabs are still found in the alpine and at treeline, but these are getting stronger daily. A layer of surface hoar down 100 to 125cm is the greatest concern right now, as it is still a distinct moderate to hard, sudden planar failure in snowpack tests. Weather: Cold arctic air is stationary over the region right now, giving predominantly cold, clear and dry conditions. A weak disturbance will track across the region Saturday, causing light SW winds and brief snow showers. Issued by: evan manners -------------------------------------------------------------------------- This forecast sponsored by: -------------------------------------------------------------------- Kootenay Boundary Avalanche Forecast Date/Time issued: Valid until: Friday, January 12, 2007 at 3:00 PM Monday, January 15, 2007 This forecast includes the southern edge of the Columbia Mountain Range bordering the US/Canada border, including parts of the Monashee, Selkirk and Purcell Mountain ranges. This region includes mountain areas east of Greenwood, southeast of Castlegar, the Selkirk Mountains near Nelson, Kootenay Pass, and the southern Purcell range west of Kimberley and Cranbrook to the US border. This region services backcountry recreationists from the southern Okanagan, Castlegar, Trail, Nelson, Kaslo, Kimberley, Creston and Cranbrook areas, as well as other visitors to southern BC. Forecast of avalanche danger Friday, January 12, 2007 Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Alpine Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Treeline Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Below Treeline Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Avalanche Awareness Days 2007 is coming to a mountain town near you this weekend! For more information visit www.avalanche.ca. The Canadian Avalanche Centre issued a Special Public Avalanche Warning on Thursday January 11. Further information is available on our website here. Travel Advisory: Down parkas are the outerwear of choice this weekend! The cold is helping to keep the avalanche danger down by making the surface layers of the snowpack stiffer. A layer of buried surface hoar causing infrequent but large avalanches to occur is thankfully not as prevalent in the Kootenay Boundary region. Some reports have come in of avalanches failing on this layer as recently as last Thursday. Avoid large, open features in the alpine and around treeline, particularly on shaded north aspects that are protected from the wind. Steer clear of terrain traps like gullies, moraines and areas where an avalanche could carry you into trees or over a cliff. It's Avalanche Awareness Days across Canada this weekend. There is likely an event near you where you can find out more about the Avaluator, a new tool that will help you enjoy safe fun in the mountains. Avalanche Activity: Some smaller human triggered and natural avalanches are still occurring in the alpine, failing in wind slabs left over from the recent storms. There have been some reports of large avalanches failing on a layer of surface hoar, usually but not always from steep north facing aspects. Snowpack: Some windslabs are found at the surface in the alpine, and these can still be triggered by skiers, boarders or sledders on steeper slopes. The two weeks of relatively steady snowfall before the cold snap has added greatly to the overall snowpack depth. It has also added load to any buried weaknesses, bringing them to near threshold in some cases. The layer of buried surface hoar from January 1st is the greatest concern. It is down about 80cm, found in sheltered glades, usually near treeline on steep, shaded slopes. Weather: Clear, cold and dry conditions will be the main weather feature until at least Monday. A very weak disturbance may cause some light winds, patches of cloud and some snow showers on Saturday. Issued by: evan manners -------------------------------------------------------------------------- This forecast sponsored by: -------------------------------------------------------------------- South Rockies Avalanche Forecast Date/Time issued: Valid until: Friday, January 12, 2007 at 4:00 PM Monday, January 15, 2007 This forecast includes the southeastern corner of BC within the Rocky Mountain Range. This region includes mountain areas in the Elk Valley between Fernie and Elkford, areas east of the Rocky Mountain trench between Canal Flats and Cranbrook, and areas within the BC side of the Crowsnest Pass. This region does not include Kananaskis Country or areas in Kootenay or Waterton Lakes National Parks. This region services backcountry recreationists from Cranbrook, Kimberley, Fernie, Sparwood and Elkford, as well as other visitors to the southeastern corner of BC. Forecast of avalanche danger Friday, January 12, 2007 Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Alpine Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Treeline Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Below Treeline Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Avalanche Awareness Days 2007 are coming to a mountain town near you this weekend! For more information visit www.avalanche.ca. The Canadian Avalanche Centre issued a Special Public Avalanche Warning on Thursday January 11. Further information is available on our website here. Travel Advisory: Although the South Rockies crowd is more acclimatized to cold than some, it's still going to be a frosty weekend. After almost two weeks of stormy weather keeping people out of the mountains, the clear skies have most making plans to be out and about this weekend despite the temperatures. There are still some reports of large, dangerous avalanches occurring, although these are widely scattered and infrequent. Avoiding big, open terrain in the alpine is the best way to reduce this potential danger. It's Avalanche Awareness Days across Canada this weekend. There is likely an event near you where you can find out more about the Avaluator, a new tool that will help expand your potential to have safe fun in the mountains. Avalanche Activity: A very few explosive triggered avalanches were reported on Thursday. Nothing was seen on Friday. Cornice fall is still possible with any winds in the alpine. The potential to trigger and propagate a large avalanche is greatest in the shallow, weak snow at the edge of wind loaded pockets in the alpine. Snowpack: The cold weather has locked up the surface layers of the snowpack. Wind slabs are present in the alpine, but very stiff due to the cold. Faceting is progressing rapidly and beginning to erode strength in shallow snow and around rocks and stumps, creating potential trigger points. Weather: Clear, cold and dry conditions will prevail throughout the forecast period. Issued by: evan manners -------------------------------------------------------------------------- This report sponsored by -------------------------------------------------------------------- North Rockies - BC Avalanche Report Date/Time issued: Valid until: Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 3:00 PM Thursday, January 18, 2007 This report includes the Rocky Mountain ranges south of the Peace Reach of Williston Lake and north of the Fraser River. The west boundary lies on the Parsnip Reach of Williston Lake, the Crooked River, Bear and Summit Lakes. The east boundary runs from Hudson's Hope, west of Chewynd and Tumbler Ridge, then east of Kakwa Recreation Area, south along the Alberta/BC border, and west of Mt. Robson Park. Forecast of avalanche danger Thursday, January 11, 2007 Alpine Treeline Below Treeline Travel Advisory: The region now sits under clear skies and cold air after some intense recent winter weather, which dropped 60-100cm of snow that was heavily affected by strong winds at upper elevations. The main concern is the existing windslabs on many slopes at treeline and alpine elevations and how long it will take them to bond to the strong underlying snowpack. Before venturing onto big slopes, take appropriate caution and travel on slopes 30 degrees or less that are not exposed to steeper terrain overhead, watching for signs of instability like snowpack cracking and whumphing, recent avalanches, and wind drifts. Avalanche Activity: There is a lack of current reports, but it is likely that there are triggerable windslabs on slopes steeper than 30 degrees at treeline and above, especially those with convex terrain features. Snowpack: The region has a good lower snowpack that sits under variable windslabs on many slopes at upper elevations. The current cold weather may keep these slabs from bonding quickly to the snowpack, so cautious travel is advised. Weather: Artic air is now digging its heels into the region. Expect continued cold temperatures, clear skies, and light-moderate winds for the near future. When the weather does change, expect avalanche conditions to do the same. Issued by: Tom Chalmers -------------------------------------------------------------------------- This forecast sponsored by: -------------------------------------------------------------------- Northwest - BC Avalanche Forecast Date/Time issued: Valid until: Friday, January 12, 2007 at 3:00 PM Monday, January 15, 2007 This forecast includes northwest BC coastal and inland areas in the Coast, Skeena and Hazelton Mountain ranges. This region includes the Coast Mountains east of Prince Rupert, north of Kitimat and east of Stewart, the Skeena Mountains from Ningunsaw Pass in the north to New Hazelton in the south, and the Hazelton Mountains between Terrace and Smithers. This region services backcountry recreationists from Prince Rupert, Kitimat, Smithers, Terrace and Stewart as well as other visitors to northwest BC. Forecast of avalanche danger Friday, January 12, 2007 Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Alpine Considerable Moderate Moderate Considerable Treeline Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Below Treeline Low Low Low Moderate Avalanche Awareness Days 2007 are coming to a mountain town near you this weekend! For more information visit www.avalanche.ca. The Canadian Avalanche Centre issued a Special Public Avalanche Warning on Thursday January 11. Further information is available on our website here. Travel Advisory: After an unrelenting procession of winter storms, clear and cold weather has finally settled into the region. Strong, variable winds during and after the last storm have affected many slopes at upper elevations and perhaps some slopes below treeline, leaving a surface that varies from scoured to hard and soft wind slabs. Ski testing has shown these slabs to be reactive, so safe travel will involve identifying and avoiding the areas where they exist, choosing alternate slopes that are smaller and less steep. Watch for a snow surface in transition from scoured to wind-loaded, especially on terrain features above steep convex slopes and along cross-loaded ribs and gullies. Whumphing and cracking are also important warning signs. The moderate snow and wind forecast to begin on Sunday may form new slabs, which will be slow to bond to a snow surface that is currently weakening in the cold. According to the Special Public Avalanche Warning issued for this weekend, minimize time in the tracks and runout zones of big avalanche paths that face north or east. Avoid cornices that grew in recent storms and are getting brittle in the cold. Avalanche Activity: There have been some isolated natural avalanches fromloading by the NE winds after the last storm. Wind slabs on many slopes at treeline and above are reactive to ski and snowpack testing, and are quite capable of producing avalanches big enough to bury and kill. Snowpack: The snow surface at treeline and above is highly wind affected and variable, with windslabs on many slopes. These slabs may be slow to stabilize under current cold temperatures. The lower snowpack is deep and well-consolidated. Weather: Light snow and winds through Saturday. Sunday: 5-10cm snow, moderate SW winds. Monday: 5-10cm snow, moderate SW winds. Freezing levels at surface through the forecast period. Issued by: Tom Chalmers -------------------------------------------------------------------------- This report sponsored by -------------------------------------------------------------------- Bighorn Country - AB Avalanche Report Date/Time issued: Valid until: Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 3:00 PM Thursday, January 18, 2007 This region includes the Rocky Mountains between the Alberta/BC boundary and the Forestry Trunk Road, north of the Red Deer River. The northern boundary goes east on the Cline River, north on the height of land between Coral and McDonald Creeks, east through Coral Lake to the confluence of the Bighorn River and Sunkay Creek, then parallel to highway 11 through Shunda Creek, and then encircles Nordegg. Report of avalanche danger Thursday, January 11, 2007 Alpine Treeline Below Treeline Travel Advisory: This week saw 5-15cm of new snow followed by strong Easterly winds. Widespread, variable windslabs exist at all elevations, which are sitting on a shallow, weak snowpack. These windslabs may be unstable enough to release naturally if affected by snow, wind, or sun, and are likely to be triggerable by people. This is a special concern for snow slopes above and between pitches on ice climbs, remembering that even small avalanches carry high consequences for people on the ice. As for you unfortunate sledders in the region, travel conditions remain thin and marginal and a great way to spend money on new trailing arms and belly pans. Avalanche Activity: This week, there were a few loose snow avalanches big enough to push climbers into a fall, from slopes facing South and East. Watch for windslabs on many slopes, some of which were cracking on steep slopes facing North and East at treeline and below this week. Snowpack: The region's snowpack features variable windslabs overlying a thin weak snowpack. Snow depths are generally 30-50cm in the alpine, 30cm at treeline, and 20-30cm below treeline. The region has been greatly affected by the wind in recent weeks, so expect to see big variations from the snow depths listed above. Weather: A mix of sun and clouds, with temperatures -10 to -20, possibly getting warmer in the daytime by early next week. Issued by: Tom Chalmers -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Important Notice: This is a regional forecast and significant variation may exist within the forecast area. The information and danger ratings are intended as a trip planning aid for recreational, backcountry users of avalanche terrain; they are not meant to be used as the sole factor in determining the avalanche danger presented by a specific slope. Always include local weather, snowpack and avalanche observations in your decision to travel in avalanche terrain. Observations and experience may lead to different conclusions from what is reported or recommended. See disclaimer for further details. The technical data used to produce these bulletins is obtained from a variety of sources, including various government agencies and private companies that participate in an industry-wide daily information exchange program. These contributors provide data, resources, and funding without which the Canadian Avalanche Centre could not provide this avalanche information. Avalanche information for other regions in western Canada is available toll-free at 1-800-667-1105 or online at www.avalanche.ca |