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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 27th, 2022–Dec 28th, 2022

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

Regions

Northwest Inland, Kispiox, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, South Bulkley, South Bulkley.

Carefully assess terrain for wind slab as you gain elevation. Wind slabs will be more reactive where they overlie facets.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday our field team observed a few recent size one natural avalanches. These avalanches released in steep alpine features on northeast aspects. They also observed a few older size 2 avalanches that released during the storm.

If you are headed out into the backcountry please consider filling out a Mountain information Network report.

Snowpack Summary

Around 20cm of recent snow has been redistributed into wind slab on North and east aspects. In non-wind effected terrain this recent snow sits on a layer of facets formed during the cold snap. Below treeline the upper snowpack became moist on Monday and has now formed a new thin crust below 1000m.

A surface hoar and facet layer from early December, while spoty, can still be found down around 40cm.

In General snowpack depths are highly variable throughout the region.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Light flurries bringing up to 5cm of new snow. Light west winds and a low of -8 at 1500m.

Wednesday

Mainly cloudy with light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light southwest winds and a high of -6 at 1500m.

Thursday

Cloudy with light flurries bringing up to 5cm of new snow. Light southeast winds and a high of -9 at 1500m.

Friday

Cloudy with flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light southeast winds and a high of -8 at 1500m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
  • The best and safest riding will be on slopes that have soft snow without any slab properties.

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.