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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 17th, 2022–Dec 18th, 2022

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Cariboos, North Rockies, Clearwater, McBride, Quesnel, Sugarbowl, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson, 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.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.