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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 14th, 2023–Dec 15th, 2023

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

South Columbia, Shuswap, Badshot-Battle, Goat, Gold, Kokanee, North Okanagan, Retallack, Valhalla, Whatshan.

Recent storm snow and buried weak layers may be reactive to human triggering, especially above treeline.

In times of uncertainty conservative terrain choices are our best defense.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, natural wind slabs up to `1.5 were reported.

Natural avalanche activity has tapered, but human-triggered avalanches remain possible at higher elevations, particularly where slabs sit over the weak surface hoar.

Snowpack Summary

New snow accompanied by strong wind has formed fresh wind slabs and buried previous wind-affected snow, sun crusts on steeper south aspects and surface hoar. Down 25-50 cm a rain crust has been observed and exists up to 2100 m throughout this region. The thickness of this crust tapers with elevation gain.

A concerning layer of surface hoar is now buried 60 to 90 cm deep at upper elevations and may be more reactive to human triggering above 2100 m.

The lower snowpack is a mix of rounded and faceted grains. A hard crust may be found near the ground.

Treeline snowpack depths are variable and generally range between 70 and 120 cm. Snowpack tapers rapidly as you move lower in elevation.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Mix of cloud and clear. Ridgetop wind 15 to 25 km/h from the south and temperatures near -6 C. Freezing levels valley bottom.

Friday

Cloudy with sunny periods. Ridgetop wind 20 to 45 km/h and temperatures near 0 C. Freezing levels 1400 m.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud. Ridgetop wind 10 gusting to 45 km/h and temperatures near -2. Freezing level 1300 m.

Sunday

Mix of sun and cloud. Ridgetop wind 15 to 25 km/h from the west and temperatures near +2 C. Freezing 1100 m. Alpine temperature inversion.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.
  • Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
  • Use conservative route selection and resist venturing out into complex terrain.

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.