Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 9th, 2022–Dec 10th, 2022

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

Cariboos, North Rockies, McBride, Premier, Quesnel, Sugarbowl, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson, Tumbler.

Wind loaded features continue to be the primary concern. Watch for dense pockets of snow around ridgelines, slabs may sit over a weak layer.

Head to sheltered areas for the best riding conditions.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported on the persistent weak layer, but we've had reports of shooting cracks and whumpfing at treeline. With very few field observations, there is great uncertainty around this layer and professionals have their guard up.

On Wednesday and Thursday natural wind slabs were reported around the Pine Pass area, to size 1.5 on north and east aspects.

Thank you for all the MIN reports! They are extremely helpful to us in the early season when snowpack information is limited. Please continue to share your observations via the Mountain Information Network

Snowpack Summary

Recent snow (20-40 cm has accumulated over several days) and variable wind have formed slabs in wind loaded terrain features at higher elevations.

A weak layer of surface hoar, facets, and/or melt-freeze crust can be found down 40-70 cm. This layer is more likely to be reactive where wind distribution has created a cohesive slab over it.

Snowpack depths range from 70 cm at treeline to 140 cm in the alpine. Below treeline snowpack is thin and faceted (weak) making it a challenge to access terrain in many areas.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Partly cloudy with moderate southerly winds, clearer skies to the north. Trace to 3 cm overnight in southern terrain. Freezing level below valley bottom.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with flurries bringing up to 5 cm in the south. Strong southeast winds. Alpine high temperature -6.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy. Light to moderate easterly winds. Alpine high temperature -8. No snowfall expected.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud with light northerly winds. Alpine high of -10. No snowfall expected.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.

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.