Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 13th, 2022–Dec 14th, 2022

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Howson, Kitimat, Nass, Northwest Coastal, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, West Stikine.

Assess for cohesive, windslabs at higher elevations, that may not be bonding particularly well to the underlying surfaces.

Be especially cautious around treeline elevations where the recent snow is more likely to sit on top of a weak layer of preserved surface hoar.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No other recent avalanche activity has been reported in the region.

If you head out in the backcountry please support your community by submitting a MIN report!

Snowpack Summary

20 to 50cm of recent snow overlies a layer of surface hoar (buried in early December), sized 5-10 mm. Wind slabs are found in wind-exposed, higher-elevation terrain, on various aspects.

A layer that was buried in mid-November can be found down 80 to 120cm deep at treeline and above. This layer consists of a crust below 1200 m and a layer of surface hoar above this elevation. This layer has not shown any recent signs of instability.

In the alpine snowpack depths over 2 meters have been reported but the snowpack below treeline is still generally quite shallow.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Mostly cloudy with no precipitation. Light to moderate winds and temperatures -5 to -10 C in the alpine.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy with no precipitation. Generally light winds, with potential for strong gusts in the alpine. A temperature inversion is in place by the end of the day, meaning alpine temperatures may be around 0 C.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with no precipitation. Generally light winds, with potential for strong gusts in the alpine. Alpine temperatures range from 0 to 5 C with a temperature inversion throughout the day.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with no precipitation. Generally light winds, with potential for strong gusts in the alpine. As the temperature inversion breaks down, alpine temperatures will return to the -5 to -10 C range in the afternoon.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

While windslabs may linger from the recent southerly winds, new windslabs are likely forming with the current northwesterly outflow winds. Winds slabs are likely to overlay a weak layer consisting of surface hoar, facets and/or a crust. Any avalanche in the upper snowpack has the potential to scrub down to these deeper weak layers, making for larger then expected avalanches. This is especially relevant at treeline elevations where surface hoar is more likely larger and better preserved.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2