Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 11th, 2024–Dec 12th, 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 possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

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

As the upper snowpack continues to settle, cohesive slabs may form. In areas where these slabs overlie a weak layer, they may be easily triggered by riders.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Since the weekend, natural, skier and explosive-triggered avalanches continue to be reported around the region. Most are size 1 to 2, with some explosive results up to 2.5. Slabs are 20 to 60 cm deep, predominantly in north to east alpine terrain, and in many cases, failing 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

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy. <15 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud. 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.

Saturday

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 50 to 60 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level rising to 1300 m.

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.
  • Cautiously approach steep slopes that are open or sparsely treed.
  • 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.