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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 16th, 2024–Dec 17th, 2024

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

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Glacier, Esplanade, Jordan, North Monashee, North Selkirk, Dogtooth, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Retallack, Whatshan.

Avalanches are possible in areas where new snow is deeper and affected by the wind.

Avoid areas that show signs of instability like recent avalanches and shooting cracks.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday and Sunday, explosives control work and skier traffic triggered storm slab and loose dry avalanches to size 1.5, averaging 20 to 30 cm deep. These avalanches were all in terrain steeper than 35 degrees, and on northerly aspects in the treeline and alpine.

Snowpack Summary

10 to 30 cm fresh snow accumulated over the weekend and was redistributed by southerly winds in the alpine and open treeline which formed slabs in lee features. This snow covers older snow in most terrain and surface hoar in sheltered locations.

A surface hoar layer is now buried 30 to 70 cm and is most prevalent from 1700 to 2200 m (see this MIN). We're tracking this layer as the load (and resulting slab) builds above it. We may see reactivity increase when the load above reaches a critical threshold. Below 1600 m on solar slopes a crust is at this interface.

There are no deeper layers of concern.

Weather Summary

Monday night

Mostly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy. 10 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Wednesday

Snow, 15-30 cm. 30 to 60 km/h northwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Thursday

Partly cloudy. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.
  • Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Investigate the bond of the recent snow before committing to your line.

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.