Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 25th, 2017 3:46PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

shorton, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

Cold conditions persist. If you get out in the mountains this week please share your photos and observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN)!

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number and quality of field observations

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY: Mostly sunny with evening flurries, moderate northwest winds, treeline temperatures around -14 C.WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light winds, treeline temperatures around -18 C.THURSDAY: Sunny, increasing winds, treeline temperatures around -20 C.

Avalanche Summary

A few small natural wind slabs were reported in steep south facing terrain west of Smithers on the weekend. Wind slabs have shown some reactivity to human triggers over the past week, but cold temperatures have generally made them difficult to trigger.

Snowpack Summary

Surface snow has been affected by winds from a variety of directions. The degree of wind effect varies throughout the region, with the most dramatic winds associated with outflow conditions in the western parts of the region near coastal inlets. Sheltered areas may still have 10-30 cm of powder from previous storms. A variable weak layer can be found roughly 20 cm below the surface, but in most places insufficient snow has fallen for it to be reactive. The layer comprises of crusts on solar aspects and feathery surface hoar crystals in sheltered locations.The lower snowpack is generally well settled with two prominent crusts. The late November crust can be found 30-50 cm below the surface and the October crust is near the base of the snowpack.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Lingering winds slabs may be found on a range of aspects in alpine terrain as winds have shifted over the past week.

Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.Evaluate unsupported slopes critically.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 26th, 2017 2:00PM