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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 10th, 2024–Dec 11th, 2024

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

North Columbia, South Columbia, Glacier, Clemina, Esplanade, Jordan, North Monashee, North Selkirk, Dogtooth, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Whatshan.

Slabs may form as the snow continues to settle. Where formed, riders could trigger them if they rest on a weak layer.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Monday saw some more small to large (size 1 to 2) avalanches triggered by riders and explosives. This adds to the many avalanches observed since the weekend, all generally being 20 to 60 cm in predominantly north to east alpine terrain. Many of the avalanches occurred where the snow rested on weak surface hoar crystals.

Although conditions are improving, it remains possible that riders could trigger similar avalanches going forward.

Snowpack Summary

Around 30 to 50 cm of snow accumulated last weekend and it has remained relatively cool and cloudy since then. The snow may remain soft without slab properties in some locations, but as the snow settles it may form a slab. This is particularly problematic where the snow may rest on weak surface hoar crystals in openings below treeline, at treeline elevations, and at lower alpine elevations. Otherwise, it rests on a hard melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes and on all aspects at low elevations.

In exposed alpine terrain, westerly wind may have formed small wind slabs in lee terrain features.

The remainder of the snowpack is strong without any deeper concerns at this time.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Mostly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 1 to 3 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Thursday

Increasing clouds with 1 to 3 cm of later afternoon snow. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Friday

Cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow. 10 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Keep your guard up as storm slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering.
  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, or recent avalanches.
  • Be aware of the potential for remote triggering and large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.

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.