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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 29th, 2017–Dec 30th, 2017

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

Regions

Northwest Inland.

Cold, dry conditions are expected to continue for the weekend. Pockets of lingering wind slabs may still exist in exposed alpine areas. New snow and wind on Monday will heighten avalanche danger.

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Ridge wind light southwest. Temperature -20. Freezing level surface.SUNDAY: Increasing cloud. Ridge wind light west. Temperature -20. Freezing level surface.MONDAY: Cloudy, flurries. Accumulation up to 5 cm. Ridge wind moderate southwest. Temperature -15. Freezing level surface.

Avalanche Summary

A few small natural wind slabs were reported last weekend in steep south facing terrain west of Smithers. Wind slabs showed some reactivity to human triggers a week ago, but cold temperatures have likely made them difficult to trigger.

Snowpack Summary

Surface snow has been affected by winds from a variety of directions. The degree of wind effect varies throughout the region, with the most dramatic winds associated with outflow conditions in western parts of the region near coastal inlets. Sheltered areas may still have 10-30 cm of powder from previous storms. A variable weak layer that formed in mid-December can be found roughly 20 cm below the surface. This mid-December layer is comprised of crusts on solar aspects and feathery surface hoar in sheltered locations.The lower snowpack is generally well settled with two prominent crusts. The late-November crust can be found 30-50 cm below the surface and the October crust is near the base of the snowpack.For an update on recent conditions check out the Mountain Information Network (MIN) report here. And please submit your own observations to the MIN!

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.