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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 8th, 2022–Dec 9th, 2022

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
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

Sea To Sky, Brandywine, Homathko, Powell River, Spearhead, Tantalus.

With the new snow and strong wind avoid riding steep wind loaded slopes, or having them above you.

 

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches reported.

Please keep sharing your observations via the MIN; it helps strengthen our information gathering!

Snowpack Summary

Surface: a variety of recent snow, wind scoured, wind pressed, suncrusts, faceting old storm snow, and more. Upper-pack: on shaded terrain at all elevations large surface hoar (up to 10 mm) and generally unconsolidated snow. The upper snowpack consists of 20-50 cm of light snow.Mid-pack: 50 cm down (maybe 70 to 100 cm in deep wind loaded areas) is a late November crust, with soft facets above. This is likely the critical snowpack weakness. Professionals are concerned about the possibility avalanches still releasing at this deeper interface.

Total snow depths remain low for early December with 70 to 120 cm at treeline and up to 180 cm in the alpine. Much of the below treeline elevation band is below the threshold for avalanches.

Weather Summary

Thursday NightIncoming storm delivering around 10 cm overnight with strong southerly winds. Treeline temperature -5 to -10 C. Freezing level around 500m.

Friday

Another 5 to 10 cm of snow brings storm accumulations around 30 or 35 cm. Moderate to strong southwest wind. Freezing level steady around 500 m.

Saturday

Storm winding down with an additional 5 cm of snow, treeline temps -10 or colder, light to moderate southwest wind.

Sunday

Continued light snow with light to moderate southerly winds. A few degrees warmer than Friday.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • The best and safest riding will be on slopes that have soft snow without any slab properties.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.

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.

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.