Avalanche forecast

Northwest Inland

Dec 21 – 22, 2023Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

The forecast calls for light amounts of precipitation and a rise in the freezing level over the next few days. If the wind picks up, watch for fresh wind slab formation at upper elevations.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    New snow and wind forecast for Thursday will continue to promote wind slab development.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2.5

    A layer of buried surface hoar can be found 30-50 cm below the snow surface. It is reported to be deeper and more reactive in the western part of the region.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

There is no new avalanche activity to report.

If you do go into the backcountry, consider submitting a Mountain Information Network report.

Snowpack Summary

5-15 cm of new snow may be obscuring on previously wind-affected surfaces at higher elevations.

Two different surface hoar layers have been reported in the upper half of the snowpack and appear to be most prominent at treeline and below. Snowpack depth at treeline is 50 to 100 cm.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy with 3-5 cm of snow, ridgetop winds southwest 15-30 km/h, treeline temperature -4 °C, freezing level 500 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with 4 to 10 cm of snow, ridgetop wind south and southwest 20-50 km/h, treeline temperature -3 °C, freezing level 1000 m

Friday

Mostly cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow, ridgetop wind southwest west 30-50 km/h, treeline temperature -1 °C, freezing level 500 m.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud with a chance of flurries, ridgetop wind west 15-25 km/h, treeline temperatures -4 °C, Freezing level at valley bottom.

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.
  • Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.

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