Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 2nd, 2013 7:56AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Peter, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

Data is very limited from the region. Please send your field observations to forecaster@avalanche.ca.

Summary

Confidence

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Tonight and Tuesday: Clear and cold. Expect mountaintop temperatures to dip close to -20. Strong outflow winds from the North-Northeast are forecast.Outlook: Continued cold and clear weather should be the story all week. Alpine temperatures should hover between -15 and -25, and winds should remain moderate to strong from the Northwest-Northeast.

Avalanche Summary

Several wind slab avalanches up to size 2 were observed in the Ashman Ridge area on December 1. These were from wind loaded areas just below ridge crests between 1500 and 1800 m.

Snowpack Summary

Observations from the region are very limited. One recent report from the Ashman Ridge area southwest of Smithers indicates that snowpack depths range from 80-160 cm near treeline. There is around 40 cm of new storm snow that is bonding poorly to the underlying surface. Recent southerly winds have formed touchy wind slabs in exposed lee terrain at treeline and above. Previous warm temperatures and rain saturated the snowpack below 1200 m and created a rain crust. The average snowpack depth in the region is around 60-90 cm at 1200-1400 m elevation.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Strong and variable winds have formed touchy wind slabs on a variety of aspects in exposed terrain. Outflow winds this week could redistribute new snow and create dense wind slabs on West and South aspects.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Avoid travelling in areas that have been reverse loaded by winds.>Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Dec 3rd, 2013 2:00PM