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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 Coast Inland, Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, Stein, Taseko.

Heightened avalanche conditions exist on wind loaded features in the alpine. Avoid freshly loaded terrain features, especially around ridge crests, roll-overs and steep terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been reported in the region.

Last weekend several size 2, natural storm slab avalanches were observed, failing on the buried surface hoar layer down 60 to 70 cm at upper treeline. Avalanche activity has not been observed on these layers in the last few days however, they continue to be reactive in snowpack tests.

If you're heading out in the backcountry, please consider sharing any observations on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

15 cm of storm snow in the northern half of the region tapers to 5 cm in the Duffey. The storm snow overlies variable surfaces including wind affected surfaces in the alpine, surface hoar in sheltered areas and a crust at lower elevations.

At treeline and above, two layers of concern exist in the mid-pack. Both layers consist of a crust that tapers at higher elevations covered by a layer of fragile surface hoar in sheltered areas. These layers are found down around 30 cm and 50 cm. No recent avalanche activity has been reported on these layers but they continue to be reactive in snowpack tests.

The snowpack remains shallow for the time of year. Snowpack depths at treeline range from 80 to 120 cm.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy with no precipitation, southwest ridgetop wind increases from 20 to 40 km/h through the night, treeline temperature -3 °C, freezing levels 1000 m.

Friday

Cloudy with isolated flurries, trace accumulation, southwest alpine winds 30 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -2 °C, freezing levels rise to 1500 m.

Saturday

Partly cloudy with no precipitation, west alpine winds 50 to 60 km/h, treeline temperature -2 °C, freezing levels 1000 m.

Sunday

Partly cloudy with no precipitation, west alpine winds 30 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -1 °C, a weak above freezing layer is present from 1400 to 3000m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to the wind, once it starts to blow fresh sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
  • Be aware of the potential for larger than expected storm slabs due to the presence of buried surface hoar.
  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and 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.