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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 4th, 2022–Dec 5th, 2022

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

Regions

South Okanagan, Shuswap, North Okanagan.

Pay attention to the wind and investigate the bond of the new snow.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been observed or reported in this region. However, note that we have had very few field observations.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30 cm of low-density snow covers older more settled snow. Southwest winds have left wind slabs at upper elevations. Down 40-60 cm is a melt-freeze crust from the middle of November. To the east, in the Columbia and Kootenay-Boundary Forecast regions, a layer of surface hoar (on a crust) down 40-70 cm has been quite reactive with extensive reports of whumpfing and cracking. This layer is found within this forecast region, but we need more field observations to determine its extent and sensitivity. Snowpack depths exceed 100 cm at upper elevations.

Weather Summary

Sunday night

Clear with patchy cloud, possible inversion and valley fog forming. Light northeast wind. Treeline temperature low -16 °C

Monday

Cold with increasing cloud and isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Northwest wind 15-25 km/hr increasing through the day. Treeline high temperatures -12 °C.

Tuesday

Cloudy and cold with isolated flurries, up to 5 cm. West wind 20-40 km/hr. Treeline high temperature -12 °C.

Wednesday

Cloudy and cold with isolated flurries. Southwest wind 20-40 km/hr. Treeline high temperature -8 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to the wind, once it starts to blow fresh sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
  • Potential for wide propagation exists, fresh slabs may rest on surface hoar, facets and/or crust.

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.