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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 25th, 2022–Dec 26th, 2022

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
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 possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Blue River, Premier, Clemina, Esplanade, Jordan, North Monashee, North Selkirk, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Whatshan.

Weekend snowfall has produced storm slabs in sheltered areas and wind slabs at higher elevations

Monday brings a warming trend that will increase avalanche hazard.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity has increased substantially over the weekend producing numerous small and large-scale avalanches. Most of this cycle has been natural but has also been human triggered. Storm slabs have been the main concern but persistent slabs are still produced and an increase in wind and temperature has been promoting wind slabs as well. With Monday's rising temperatures, avalanche activity is expected to continue.

Snowpack Summary

Accumulated weekend snowfall will vary in depth throughout the region with most areas receiving 50 to 60 cm and some getting as much as 90 cm. South southwest winds will likely redistribute this into wind slabs at higher elevations. In more sheltered areas the recent snow will have formed a storm slab. A warmer trend starting Sunday night and continuing into Monday is expected to promote the formation of these slabs. The new snow may not bond well to the variety of surfaces that it overlays. These include hard wind-packed snow in exposed alpine, crust on steep sun-exposed slopes, small surface hoar crystals in wind-sheltered areas, and sugary facet crystals in other areas.

Numerous other problematic layers exist in the top 50 to 100 cm of the snowpack, consisting of surface hoar, faceted grains, and/or a crust. Avalanches have been most prominent between 1700 and 2200 m and on all aspects. Read our forecaster blog for managing a persistent slab problem.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Cloudy, up to 7 cm accumulation, 25 to 35 km/h south wind, treeline temperatures -1 °C with freezing levels up to 1500 m.

Monday

Cloudy, 5 to 15 cm accumulation with possibility of rain in many areas, 25 to 45 km/h south southwest wind gusting to 75, treeline temperatures 1 °C and freezing levels getting up to 2000 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy, up to 15 cm accumulation, 25 km/h south wind, treeline temperatures -8 to -1 °C and freezing levels up to 1500 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy, 2 to 8 cm, 15 to 25 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperatures -8 to -3 °C and freezing levels up to 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Good day to make conservative terrain choices.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
  • Extra caution for areas experiencing rapidly warming temperatures for the first time.

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.