Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 4th, 2022–Dec 5th, 2022

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

Regions

Cariboos, North Rockies, McBride, Premier, Quesnel, Sugarbowl, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson, Tumbler.

Pay attention to the wind. Expect fresh wind slabs to form where the wind redistributes loose snow.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

We've had limited reports from the region, however, with a lot of loose snow available increasing wind will easily build fresh slabs.

A natural wind slab avalanche cycle (likely occurring last Wed-Thurs) was reported west of Tumbler Ridge, with a north wind event producing wind slab avalanches to size 2.5.

Please consider sharing your observations via the Mountain Information Network to help us and fellow recreationists.

Snowpack Summary

Low-density flurries have dusted localized areas overnight and cold temperatures and starry skies are promoting surface hoar growth and facetting. Winds have redistributed loose snow at upper elevations, but plenty of low-density snow remains available for transport.

Settling snow now covers a layer of surface hoar, facets, and melt-freeze crust down 40-70 cm. We're still gaining information on the distribution and sensitivity of this layer, but further south of the Avalanche Forecast region, reactive surface hoar is found over this crust. Snowpack depths range from 60 cm at treeline to 120 cm in the alpine.

Weather Summary

Sunday night

Clear with patchy cloud, possible inversion and valley fog forming. Northeast wind 20-30 with possible gusts to 50 km/hr. Treeline temperature low -22 °C

Monday

Increasing cloud and isolated flurries, more likely towards the east slopes of the Rockies, trace to 5 cm accumulation. Northwest wind 20-40 km/hr. Treeline high temperature -16 C.

Tuesday

Increasing cloud and isolated flurries, accumulation up to 5-10 mm, high snow-to-liquid ratios could produce enhanced snowfall at upper elevations. West wind 15-25 km/hr. Treeline high temperature -15 C.

Wednesday

Cloudy, windy, and flurries, up to 20 mm accumulation forecast (cold, low-density snow). Increasing southwest wind gusting upwards of 60 km/hr. Treeline temperature rising to -8 C.

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.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.
  • 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.

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.