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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 6th, 2022–Dec 7th, 2022

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

Regions

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

An incoming storm system brings new snow and wind.

Avalanche activity is expected to increase as amounts accumulate.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches reported. An incoming storm is expected to change this with an increase in avalanche activity over the next few days.

Snowpack Summary

An incoming storm system will bring up to 30 cm to areas of our region by the end of the day Wednesday. This new snow will be covering a variety of layers, mainly surface hoar and facets. On steep southerly aspects and at higher elevations the new snow may instead lie on a crust.

Last week strong outflow winds scoured easterly slopes, created hard slabs on west and south slopes, and cross-loaded others.

A layer that formed in mid-November can be found down 70 to 100 cm 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 recent signs of instability.

The depth of the snowpack at treeline varies widely from 100 to 200 cm and tapers rapidly below treeline. Many early-season hazards such as rocks, stumps, and open creeks exist below treeline.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Cloudy, 10 cm accumulation, winds west 30 to 40 km/h, -8 C at 1500 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy, 10 to 15 cm accumulation, winds southerly 40 to 50 km/h, -7 C at 1500 m.

Thursday

Cloudy, 10 to 15 cm accumulation, winds southwest 30 gusting to 60 km/h, -5 C at 1500 m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy, 8 to 13 cm accumulation, winds south 15 to 20 km/h, -5 C at 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Fresh wind slabs will likely form throughout the day, diligently watch for changing conditions.
  • The best and safest riding will be on slopes that have soft snow without any slab properties.

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.