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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 16th, 2022–Dec 17th, 2022

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

Regions

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

With north winds continuing, be aware of the potential for reverse loading and encountering Wind Slabs in places you might not expect them.

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

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

The only avalanches reported in the last 48hrs were small, loose wet releases from steep, rocky terrain.

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

Snowpack Summary

Surfaces at upper elevations are highly wind affected and variable at this time. In some parts of the region a crust exists on south aspects after warm temperatures swept through this week. Dry snow still exists on northerly aspects.

20 to 50cm of snow overlies a layer of surface hoar (buried in early December), sized 5-10 mm. Though this layer has not been producing avalanches, it should not be forgotten. With northwest winds continuing, Wind Slabs have the potential to form on south through southeast aspects and cross-loaded features.

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

Weather Summary

Friday night

Clouds making way for starry skies. Flurries amounting to 5cm of new snow as the warm and cold air meet. Wind from the northwest 40km/h gusting to 70km/h. Temperatures dropping to -15˚C.

Saturday to Monday

Mostly clear skies. The odd flurry is possible on Saturday. Winds from the north and northeast at 40km/h. Temperatures ranging from -20˚C to -25˚C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • 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.

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.