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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 29th, 2022–Dec 30th, 2022

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

Regions

Northwest Inland, Kispiox, Microwave-Sinclair, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

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

On Wednesday in the western part of the Telkwas there was a report of widespread avalanches below treeline. These avalanches were failing down 30cm on the layer of facets formed during the period of arctic air last week.

Over the past couple days our field team has seen evidence of natural avalanches up to size 2.5 that likely released on Sunday. These avalanches were on northeast aspects at treeline or above and failed on a layer of facets formed during the period of arctic air last week.

If you are headed out into the backcountry please consider filling out a Mountain information Network report.

Snowpack Summary

Around 20 to 30cm of recent snow has been redistributed into wind slab on North and east aspects. In non-wind effected terrain this recent snow sits on a layer of facets formed during the period of arctic air. Below treeline the upper snowpack became moist on Monday and has now formed a new thin crust below 1000m.

A surface hoar and facet layer from early December, while spotty, can still be found down around 40cm.

In General snowpack depths are highly variable throughout the region.

Weather Summary

Thursday

Cloudy with light flurries bringing a few centimeters of new snow. Light to moderate southeast winds and a low of -9 at 1500m.

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud with flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light southeast winds and a high of -7 at 1500m.

Saturday

Cloudy with light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light westerly winds and a high of -4 at 1500m.

Sunday

A mix of sun and cloud with the possibility of light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light southerly winds and a high of -5 at 1500m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
  • Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
  • The best and safest riding will be on slopes that have soft snow without any slab properties.

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.