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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 17th, 2022–Dec 18th, 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: Cariboos, Clearwater, Kakwa, McBride, McGregor, North Rockies, Pine Pass, Quesnel, Renshaw, Robson, Sugarbowl, Tumbler.

Keep backcountry travel low-risk and close to the car. With really cold temperatures and some of the shortest daylight hours of the year, any sort of incident (even broken equipment) could quickly become an epic.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

One new glide slab avalanche, size 1.5, was observed in the northern Cariboos on Friday. The avalanche initiated on a rock slab at treeline. Numerous other glide cracks were observed in the area.

Please continue to share any observations of photos on the Mountain Information Network!

Snowpack Summary

5 - 10 cm of new snow is being redistributed by strong northeasterly winds into fresh winds slabs in exposed areas. In sheltered areas, new snow sits on a weak layer of preserved, 5 mm, surface hoar Distribution of the weak layer is uncertain.

40-80 cm of snow continues to settle over a generally weak sugary, facetted mid and lower snowpack. Snowpack depths are highly variable, ranging from 80-180 cm in the alpine. Below treeline the snowpack is thin and sugary making it a challenge to access terrain in many areas without damaging your sled or skis.

Weather Summary

Saturday night

Broken skies, windy, and dropping temperatures. Isolated flurries with trace accumulation. Northeasterly ridgetop wind 40 -50 km/hr. Overnight temperatures drop to -30 C.

Sunday

Colder, the arctic air settles in. Sunny with cloudy periods. Northeasterly ridgetop wind 30 -40 km/hr. Daytime high temperature -30 C.

Monday

Very cold, a bit less windy. Sunny skies and northeasterly ridgetop wind 20 -40 km/hr. Daytime high temperature -32 C.

Tuesday

Sunny skies. Northeasterly ridgetop wind 20 -40 km/hr. daytime high temperatures -32 C.

Monday

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Strong northeasterly winds are redistributing available snow into fresh winds slabs on lee features and stripping windward areas. Watch for pockets of cohesive snow in exposed terrain at upper elevations, around ridges and convex rolls.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 1.5