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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 9th, 2022–Dec 10th, 2022

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 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.

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Blue River, Clearwater, Clemina, Jordan, North Monashee, North Selkirk, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla, Whatshan.

Continue to make conservative terrain choices. We are inching closer to the tipping point where persistent slab avalanches become more reactive to rider triggering. Read our newest blog to learn more about this concerning layer and how to manage it.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday several size 1 wind slab avalanches were triggered by skiers in treeline terrain. Several of these avalanches were remotely triggered, failing on buried surface hoar. Whumpfing and cracking were observed throughout the region.

Snowpack Summary

Recent new snow, about 30 to 50cm, has been redistributed by moderate southwest winds forming wind slab. On south facing slopes this new snow has fallen on a sun crust and in sheltered terrain it sits over a layer of surface hoar.

Buried 60 to 90cm deep, a layer of surface hoar, crust, and faceted crystals is the persistent layer of concern. This layer has been most reactive at treeline between 1700-2200 m, but it was also observed as low as 1450 m.

Snowpack depths range from 90cm at treeline to 200cm in the alpine.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Flurries with up to 5cm of new snow expected. Southerly winds increasing throughout the night, strong by early Saturday morning. Low of -10 at 1800m.

Saturday

Cloudy with up to 5cm of new snow. Moderate southerly winds in the morning becoming light in the afternoon. High of -7 at 1800m.

Sunday

Flurries in the morning bringing trace amounts of new snow and then clearing in the afternoon. High of -6 at 1800m. Light easterly winds.

Monday

Mostly cloudy with the possibility of light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light winds and a high of -9 at 1800m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
  • Potential for wide propagation exists, fresh slabs may rest on surface hoar, facets and/or crust.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

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.