Avalanche forecast

North Columbia

Dec 10 – 11, 2016Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low

Highlights

Forecast light snow and moderate winds may continue to develop wind slabs in the alpine and at treeline.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    New wind slabs may develop due to forecast snow and wind overnight. Older wind slabs may continue to be triggered by skiers/riders at higher elevations.

Confidence

Moderate - Wind speed and direction is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Light snow and moderate southwest winds overnight, expect a couple of cm by morning. Alpine temperatures around -15 on Sunday with moderate westerly winds and overcast skies. Clear and cold on Monday with alpine temperatures around -20 and moderate northwest winds. Clear and cold on Tuesday with light north winds.

Avalanche Summary

A few skier triggered wind slabs size 1.0 were reported from the Monashees. One size 2.5 glide slab was reported that released in the last 48 hours.

Snowpack Summary

In most areas there is 30-50 cm of recent storm snow that has stayed unconsolidated except where it has been transported into wind slabs. The surface snow has been facetting due to the cold temperatures, and some surface hoar has been developing in isolated areas. The mid-pack has been reported to be well settled above above a crust that was buried in mid-november. This crust may be buried less than a metre to close to 2 metres deep, depending on elevation and previous exposure to winds. Snowpack tests on the crust have shown variable results from sudden and planar to no result. Professionals continue to monitor this crust and are watching for facet development above and below that may increase reactivity. The basal layers of the snowpack continue to be reported to be moist in some of the deeper snowpack areas of the region.

Regions covered