Avalanche forecast

North Columbia

Dec 8 – 9, 2024Avalanche Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 2 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
3 · Considerable

Highlights

Choose small, low consequence slopes.

Storm slabs are likely sensitive to rider traffic and remote triggering is possible.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    2–3

    Storm slabs will likely remain sensitive to rider traffic due to the surface hoar and crust the new snow has fallen on.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

At the time of publishing we received reports of dry loose and storm slab avalanches up to size 2. These avalanches took place on a variety of aspects at treeline and above.

We suspect far more avalanche activity has taken place but reports are not yet in.

Snowpack Summary

By early morning on December 8th up to 60 cm of new snow may have fallen. This new snow overlies a variety of surfaces including a sun crust on steep south aspects and Surface hoar on northerly aspects.

The mid snowpack is generally well settled, with an early November crust buried 80 to 130 cm deep.

Snowpack depths taper rapidly below treeline.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy with 5 to 25 cm of snow expected. The greatest snowfall amounts are expected in the southern Monashees. 15 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6°C.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with up to 10 cm of snow expected. 10 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6°C.

Monday

Mostly cloudy with no snow expected. 15 to 25 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9°C.

Tuesday

Mix of sun and cloud with no snow expected. 15 to 25 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11°C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Be aware of the potential for remote triggering and large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.

Regions covered