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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 11th, 2022–Dec 12th, 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.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Okanagan, Shuswap, North Okanagan.

Watch for pockets of soft wind slabs in isolated terrain features that remain possible for human triggering.

A small avalanche in extreme terrain can have serious consequences.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been observed or reported in this region. However, note that we have had very few field observations. Please submit a Mountain Information Network report if you are heading to the backcountry!

Snowpack Summary

27 cm of new snow has been redistributed by southwest winds forming soft wind slabs in lees. On south-facing slopes this new snow has fallen on a sun crust and in sheltered terrain, it sits over a layer of weak surface hoar.

Buried 30 to 50cm deep, a layer of surface hoar, crust, and faceted crystals is a layer of concern. Observations are limited in this region but this layer has already produced avalanches in the neighboring regions.

Snowpack depths at upper treeline is around 80 - 100 cm.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Cloudy. Light northerly ridge winds. Alpine temperatures, low of -8. Freezing levels drop from 1000 m to valley bottom overnight.

Monday

Mix of sun and cloud. Isolated flurries possible, trace accumulation. Light northerly ridge winds. Alpine temperatures, high of -7. Freezing levels rise to 500m.

Tuesday

Sunny with cloudy periods. Light to moderate northerly ridge winds. A weak alpine inversion brings alpine temperatures around -4 while the valley bottom remains -9.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and cloud. Light to moderate northerly ridge winds. Alpine temperatures, high of -7.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.

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.