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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 12th, 2022–Dec 13th, 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, 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

South Okanagan, Shuswap, North Okanagan.

Watch for wind-loaded pockets, especially at ridge crests and in extreme terrain.

Seek out sheltered terrain to find preserved snow and the best riding.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday explosives control triggered several size 1.5 wind slab avalanches on an east-facing aspect in the alpine. Avalanche released above a weak layer of surface hoar, crust, and faceted crystals.

Please submit a Mountain Information Network report if you are heading to the backcountry!

Snowpack Summary

20 -30 cm of snow has been redistributed by southwest winds and has formed soft wind slabs in lees at higher elevations. As winds switch to the north watch for reverse loading and cross-loading in the surface slab. On south-facing slopes this snow sits on a sun crust and in sheltered terrain, it sits over a layer of weak surface hoar.

Buried 40 to 60cm 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

Monday Night

Clear skies with light northerly ridge winds. Alpine temperatures, low of -8. Freezing levels valley bottom.

Tuesday

Mainly clear in the morning with clouds increasing in the afternoon. Northerly ridge wind 25 km/hr. Alpine temperatures, high of -4. Freezing levels 500m.

Wednesday

A mix of sun and cloud. Northwesterly ridge winds 40 - 60 km/hr. Alpine temperatures, high of -4. Freezing levels valley bottom.

Thursday

Clear skies. Northwesterly ridge winds 40 - 60 km/hr. Alpine temperatures, high of -5. Freezing levels valley bottom.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Avoid lee and cross-loaded slopes at and above treeline.
  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.

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.