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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 31st, 2022–Jan 1st, 2023

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

Regions

Northwest Inland, Kispiox, Microwave-Sinclair, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Use extra caution at treeline and below where persistent weak layers have been most reactive. Be aware that wind slabs could step down to these layers.

Natural avalanche activity has tapered off but human triggering of persistent slabs is still possible.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Over the past few days we received several reports of previous natural avalanches up to size 2.5. These avalanches released in the facet layer produced during the recent period of arctic air. These avalanches have occurred at all elevations and on a variety of aspects.

Check out this MIN report from our field team for some photos and a good summary of this type of activity.

If you are headed out into the backcountry please consider filling out a Mountain information Network report.

Snowpack Summary

Around 30 to 40cm of recent snow has been redistributed into wind slab in exposed terrain at treeline and above. In non-wind effected terrain this recent snow sits on a layer of facets formed during the period of arctic air. Below treeline a thin crust can likely be found at or near the surface.

A surface hoar and facet layer from early December, while spotty, can still be found down around 60cm.

In General snowpack depths are highly variable throughout the region.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy with light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light southwest winds and a low of -4 at 1500m.

Sunday

Cloudy with no new snow expected. Southerly winds increasing throughout the day to strong at ridgetop. A high of -4 at 1500m.

Monday

Cloudy with trace amounts of new snow expected. Moderate to strong southeast winds and a high of -7 at 1500m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with flurries bringing a few centimeters of new snow. Light Southeast winds and a high of -7 at 1500m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.
  • The best and safest riding will be on slopes that have soft snow without any slab properties.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

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.