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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 8th, 2023–Dec 9th, 2023

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

Regions

Northwest Inland, Kispiox, Microwave-Sinclair, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, North Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Use caution at all elevations. New snow and wind will likely form wind slab in exposed terrain and add to the slab forming above a buried surface hoar layer.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported in the past couple days.

If you do go into the backcountry, consider submitting a Mountain Information Network report.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 10 cm of new snow accompanied by southerly wind will form wind slab on northerly aspects. This new snow will also bury another layer of surface hoar at 1200 m, below this elevation it will bury a crust. 30 to 60 cm of previous storm snow sits above a large layer of surface hoar. This layer likely exists on all aspects above 1200 m.

In general, the snowpack is still shallow for this time of year with snowpack depths at treeline ranging from 50 to 100 cm. Early season hazards are still a concern.

Check out this MIN from our field team.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy with a couple centimeters of new snow expected, South alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -8°C.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of new snow expected, southeast alpine wind 30 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -1°C.

Sunday

A mix of sun and cloud with no new snow expected, west alpine wind 20 to 60 km/h, freezing level rising to 1400 m.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud with no new snow expected,  southwest alpine wind increasing to 40 to 60 km/h, freezing level falling to valley bottom.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
  • Fresh wind slabs will likely form throughout the day, diligently watch for changing conditions.
  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Problems

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.

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.