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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 30th, 2022–Dec 31st, 2022

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

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, Howson.

Use extra caution at treeline and below where persistent weak layers have been most reactive. Be aware that wind slabs could step down to deeper layers.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Over the past few days several avalanches have been triggered at treeline and below on the layer of facets formed during the recent period of arctic air. Triggers have included vehicle remotes, skier remotes, naturals and explosives. These avalanches have generally ranged in size from 1 to 2.

Snowpack Summary

Wind slab could be found at all elevations. wind slabs could be found on all aspects in the alpine and treeline, below treeline cross loading will likely be found in all coastal inlets due to outflow. A new crust exists on or near the surface below 1000m.

30 to 60cm of recent storm snow overlies a variety of surfaces formed during the previous cold snap. In the alpine these surfaces are generally facets, old wind slab and Surface hoar. At treeline it is more likely to find surface hoar at this interface in sheltered terrain.

A layer of surface hoar and facets from early December can be found down 50cm in shallower snowpacks and over 80cm in deeper areas. recently this layer has not been reactive but still produces sudden results in snowpack tests.

The mid November crust is buried down over a meter in most places and is unreactive. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Cloudy with the possibility of light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light variable winds in the alpine and moderate outflow at valley bottom. Low of -4 at 1500m.

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud with light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light southwest winds and a high of -4 at 1500m.

Sunday

Cloudy with up to 5cm of new snow expected for more coastal part of region. Moderate to strong south winds and a high of -2 at 1500m.

Monday

Cloudy with up to 5cm of new snow. Moderate to strong south winds and a high of -3 at 1500m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Be aware of the potential for surprisingly large avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.

Problems

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.

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.