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Avalanche Forecast

Dec 24th, 2022–Dec 25th, 2022
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, South Coast Inland, Stein, Taseko.

Strong wind, rising freezing levels and ongoing precipitation will keep avalanche hazard elevated.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

No notable recent avalanches have been reported, however poor weather and road closures have limited observations.

Please continue to post your observations and photos to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

In the last 48 hours, around 15 cm fresh snow fell with steady south-southwest wind. The new snow overlies a facetted and unconsolidated layer which formed during the recent cold weather.

The winter snowpack is not as deep as usual, and along with a cold and dry early winter, the lower snowpack consists of weak, unconsolidated facets and depth hoar crystals. Snowpack depths average 50-200 cm at treeline.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Flurries, 5 cm. Ridgetop low temperature -9 C. Southwest wind 25-35 km/hr.

Sunday

Flurries begin around noon, 5-10 cm by end of day. Ridgetop high temperatures -2 C. Southwest wind 20-40 km/hr. Freezing level rising towards 1500 m.

Monday

Wet flurries and snow, 10 cm overnight plus 10 cm through the day. Ridgetop high temperature 0 C. Southwest wind 20-40 km/hr. Freezing level peaking above 1800 m.

Tuesday

Flurries and snow, 10 cm. Ridgetophigh temperature -1 C. Southwest wind 30-60 km/hr. Freezing level 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Steady south-southwest wind has and continues to impact flurries and loose snow.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Loose Wet

Watch for rising freezing levels and rain-on-snow and turning surface snow moist and saturating the snowpack. In the case of wet avalanches, the first 24 hours of rain-on-snow are the most hazardous as large, destructive avalanches are most likely to occur.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 1.5

Deep Persistent Slabs

The winter snowpack is not as deep as usual, and along with a cold and dry early winter, the lower snowpack consists of weak, unconsolidated facets and depth hoar crystals. With weak basal layers, a cautious approach to large open terrain features is required especially around rocky or thin areas.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5