Avalog
Register
Get forecast notifications
Create an account to receive email notifications when forecasts are published.
Register
Login
Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 16th, 2022–Dec 17th, 2022
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: North Okanagan, Shuswap, South Okanagan.

Keep backcountry travel low-risk and close to the car. Temperatures are forecasted to really start dropping and along with some of the shortest daylight hours of the year, any sort of incident (even broken equipment) could quickly become an epic.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

A handful of size 1 avalanches were reported in the Sun Peaks area Monday-Wednesday this week, these storm and wind slab avalanches were about 30 cm deep, one is covered in this MIN report from Monday.

Please submit a Mountain Information Network report if you are heading to the backcountry!

Snowpack Summary

20-30 cm of recent snow has been redistributed by southwest winds at higher elevations. Forecasted northerly winds may reverse-load features and build fresh slabs. Now down 20-30 cm, this recent snow covers a crust on solar slopes and a layer of weak surface hoar in more shaded terrain.

Buried 40-60 cm deep, a layer of surface hoar, crust, and faceted crystals is a layer of concern. Observations are limited in this region but this layer has already produced avalanches in the neighbouring regions.

Snowpack depths at upper elevations are around 80-100 cm.

Weather Summary

Friday night

Cloudy with isolated flurries, trace to 5 cm by morning. Light westerly ridge winds up to 20 km/h. Overnight alpine low temperature -14 C.

Saturday

Cloudy skies and isolated flurries, another trace to 5 cm. Light west ridge winds up to 20 km/h.  Alpine high temperature -9 C and dropping quickly.

Sunday

Cold and grey, possible isolated flurries. Light northeast ridge winds up to 20 km/h.  Alpine high temperature -20 C.

Monday

Very cold, but less windy. Calm to light winds, daytime high temperatures -22 C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
  • Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.
  • Pay attention to the wind, once it starts to blow fresh sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Recent winds have redistributed snow to a variety of aspects. Seek out wind-sheltered terrain where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 1.5