Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 23rd, 2013 8:35AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.

esharp, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

Forecasters are working with very limited field data at this time. If you are out playing in the hills we'd love to hear about what you're seeing. Send your observations to forecaster@avalanche.ca.

Summary

Confidence

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Synopsis: A return to a drier, colder, northwesterly flow will occur tonight. This is forecast to persist briefly until the next system hits the NW of the province. This system resembles the last and is expected to once again bring moderate snowfall to the region.Tonight and Tuesday: Cloudy, with scattered flurries starting later in the day. The arrival of the cold front will keep freezing levels down at valley bottom. Ridgetop winds will be strong to extreme from the west. Wednesday: Temperatures will rise as the warm front pushes onto the coast. Freezing levels are expected to climb up to 1600m. Winds will be moderate from the west gusting to strong.Thursday: Periods of snow will persist through the day. Freezing levels are expected to remain high. Winds will be moderate from the southwest.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches have been reported lately.

Snowpack Summary

There is significant variation in snow depths across the region. In the Smithers area the ski hill is reporting an 111 cm base while the Ashman trailer is around the same. Treeline depths vary between 100 - 200 cm.The region picked up 10 - 40 cm of new snow in the weekends storm. The upper snow pack is likely to be " upside down" as the new snow is sitting on top of 10 to 30 cm of cold snow from earlier in the week. Below 1100m the upper snow pack is rests upon a crust. Deeper in the snow pack a layer of facets/surface hoar can be found above old wind slabs and melt-freeze crusts, formed during the December cold/dry spell. We don't have great wind stations in the region, but the coast saw a lot of strong wind during the last storm & I suspect this region was similarly hammered by wind. The mid and lower snowpack is still structurally weak and faceted. Depth hoar and early season crust near the ground.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Recent snow combined with sustained strong winds are loading lee features. Watch for developing wind slabs.

Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Stay well to the windward side of corniced ridges.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Deep Persistent Slabs

New snow combined with strong winds may overload the weak layers deep in our snowpack. Pay attention to what's going on above you and limit your exposure to overhead hazard.

Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.>Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches due to the presence of buried crust/facet combo.>

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

3 - 6

Valid until: Dec 24th, 2013 2:00PM