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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 31st, 2023–Jan 1st, 2024
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
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: Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Jordan, North Columbia, North Okanagan, Shuswap, South Columbia, Whatshan.

Be mindful a buried weak layer may persist within range of human triggering.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

  • Solar-triggered loose wet avalanches were reported in the warm weather on Saturday, mostly size 1 but up to size 2.

  • Explosive control work near Revelstoke on Saturday produced cornice and near-surface slab avalanches size 1.5-2.5.

  • A couple of natural wind slabs size 1-2 and a persistent slab size 1.5 have been reported out of steep, unsupported alpine features in the last couple of days.

Snowpack Summary

5-15 cm of new snow sits over a crust at elevations and aspects that saw above-zero temperatures and sun on Saturday.

The mid snowpack contains a couple of layers of note; a hard crust formed by an early December rain event around 60 cm deep and a layer of surface hoar 60 to 100 cm deep. Where it exists, the crust effectively bridges underlying weak layers, but the surface hoar remains a concern in areas that do not have the overlying crust.

The lower snowpack is variable throughout the region; in shallower snowpack areas, basal facets may exist.

Weather Summary

Sunday night

Mostly cloudy with a trace of new snow, ridgetop wind <15 km/h west, treeline temperature -3 °C.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud, ridgetop wind 20-30 km/h southwest, treeline temperature -2 °C.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud, ridgetop wind 20-30 km/h southeast, treeline temperature -3 °C.

Wednesday

Sunny, ridgetop wind 20-30 km/h variable, treeline temperature -2 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.
  • Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slabs

A layer of surface hoar is buried 60 to 100 cm deep. This layer may be triggerable by riders at upper elevations where it is not bridged by a thick overlying crust.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1.5 - 3