Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 22nd, 2013 8:15AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.

ghelgeson, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

Forecasters are working with very limited field data at this time. If you are traveling in the backcountry we'd love to hear about what you're seeing out there! forecaster@avalanche.ca

Summary

Confidence

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Synopsis: The freezing level should top out around 1700m a few hours after sunset. Parts of the region may see a small amount of rain before the night is over. Sunday Night: Dropping to around 800m overnight. Precip: Trace Monday: Freezing Level: 900m Precip: Nil Wind: Mod, W gusting StrongTuesday: Freezing Level: 500m Precip: 1/3mm 2/6cm Wind: Mod, W gusting Extreme.Wednesday: Freezing Level: 1600m Precip: 6/10mm Wind: Mod, W gusting Extreme.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches reported in the last week.

Snowpack Summary

We got a couple of observations from Saturday which is great! There is significant variation in snow depths across the region. In the Smithers area the ski hill is reporting an 89 cm base while the Ashman trailer is around the same. Treeline depths vary between 100 - 200 cm.The region has picked up 10 - 30 cm of cold new snow over the last three days. Last weekend's storm finished very warm, as a result a crust can be found near the snow surface below 1100m. The best guess is that the last storm produced around 10 - 50 cm of snow. This snow now overlies the layer of facets/surface hoar that sit above old wind slabs and melt-freeze crusts which were formed during the December cold/dry spell. We don't have great wind stations in the region, but the coast saw a lot of strong wind during the last storm & I suspect this region was similarly hammered by wind. The mid and lower snowpack is still structurally weak due to facets, potentially even depth hoar and an early season crust near the ground.

Problems

Storm Slabs

It's starting to look like snow totals from this storm won't be all that impressive, but combine that with Sunday/Monday's strong winds and we'll still see some change in the snowpack. Watch for fresh sensitive wind slabs on Monday.

Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.>Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Deep Persistent Slabs

New snow combined with strong winds may overload the weak layers deep in our snowpack. Pay attention to what's going on above you and limit your exposure to overhead hazard.

Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches due to the presence of buried crust/facet combo.>Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.>Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

3 - 6

Valid until: Dec 23rd, 2013 2:00PM