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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 24th, 2013–Dec 25th, 2013

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

Regions

Northwest Inland.

Confidence

Poor - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Synopsis: Inland areas can expect light snow accumulations and rain over the christmas period.Tonight and Wednesday: Isolated flurries. Freezing levels: rising to 1700m. Ridge winds: strong westerly.Thursday: Wet flurries and rain. Freezing levels: 1900m. Ridge winds: moderate westerlyFriday: Clearing. Freezing levels: drop to 1000m. Ridge winds: moderate south-westerlySpecial Notice: Our radar has just picked-up what appears to be a flying sleigh. Our forecasters believe the sleigh belongs to Santa as it is being pulled by at least 8 reindeer. The sleigh is now in the far north of the province at the 2000m elevation and is currently headed south. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche have been reported.

Snowpack Summary

There is significant variation in snow depths across the region. In the Smithers area the ski hill is reporting an 111 cm base with the Ashman trailer is around the same. Treeline depths vary between 100 - 200 cm.The region picked up 10 - 40 cm of new snow in last weekend's storm. The upper pack is likely to be slightly "upside down" as the new snow is sitting on top of 10 to 30 cm of cold snow from earlier in the week. This snow is rests upon a crust that extend up to treeline and possibly beyond. This interfaces has been popping under easy loads in snowpack tests.We don't have great wind stations in the region, but the coast saw a lot of strong wind during the last storm & I suspect this region was similarly hammered, forming windslabs in the alpine and at treeline.Deeper in the snow pack a layer of facets/surface hoar formed during the early December cold/dry spell can be found in the top 100cm in the Ashman . The mid and lower snowpack is still structurally weak and faceted. Depth hoar and early season crust exist near the ground.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.