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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 17th, 2022–Dec 18th, 2022

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.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, Howson, Ningunsaw.

Strong outflow winds are expected to affect treeline and above.

Be aware of the potential for reverse loading and encountering wind slabs on slopes you might not expect them.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Friday, small slabs avalanches (size 1) were triggered by skiers on steep wind-loaded slopes in the Zymacord area. If you venture into the backcountry, please consider submitting a MIN report, as it helps to strengthen our data gathering.

Snowpack Summary

Surfaces at upper elevations are highly wind-affected and variable at this time. In some parts of the region, a crust exists on south aspects after warm temperatures swept through this week. Dry snow still exists on northerly aspects at lower elevations.

A layer of large surface hoar crystals, buried in early December, is found down 20 to 50 cm. Although this layer has not been producing avalanches recently, reverse-loading may increase the likelihood of triggering.

The lower snowpack is well consolidated above the mid-November crust, found at treeline below 1200 m.

Weather Summary

An arctic front is sliding throughout the region. Gusty northerly winds and cold temperatures will persist into next week. Strong outflows are expected through the coastal inlets due to channelling effects.

Saturday night

Partly cloudy. Isolated flurries. Northeast wind 40 km/h gusting 60 km/h at ridge tops. Temperatures dropping to -15˚C.

Sunday

A mix of sun and cloud. Scattered flurries. Northeast wind 40 km/h at ridge tops. High of -20˚C.

Monday

Mainly sunny. No precipitation. Northeast wind 40 km/h at ridge tops. High of -22˚C.

Tuesday

Mainly sunny. No precipitation. Northeasterly wind 40 km/h at ridge tops. High of -24˚C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.

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.