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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 19th, 2023–Dec 20th, 2023
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Howson, Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames.

Continued light snowfall and wind will promote wind slab formation at upper elevations. Treat open terrain at treeline and below with caution due to the presence of a persistent slab.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

There are no new avalanches to report in the past few days.

Snowpack Summary

Recent new snow has been redistributed by predominantly southwest winds.

A buried layer of weak, feathery surface hoar crystals buried mid-December can be found down 25 to 50 cm from the surface. An additional layer of buried surface hoar may exist deeper in the snowpack, roughly 55 to 95 cm below the surface.

The remaining mid and lower snowpack contains several crusts from early in the season that are generally well-bonded to the surrounding snowpack.

Snow depth decreases significantly at lower elevations.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Cloudy with a trace of snow, ridgetop wind southwest 15 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -3 °C.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 2-7 cm of snow, ridgetop wind southwest 30-50 km/h, treeline temperature -2 °C.

Thursday

Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of snow, ridgetop wind south 30-60 km/h, treeline temperature -2 °C.

Friday

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow, ridgetop wind south 20-50 km/h, treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Approach steep open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, buried surface hoar may exist.
  • Surface hoar distribution is highly variable. Avoid generalizing your observations.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind direction has switched over the past few days so expect to find wind slabs on a variety of aspects.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

Two layers of surface hoar may be found 30 and 90 cm below the snow surface. There is uncertainty on reactivity of these layers. Best to presume the layers are present and approach open, inter-connected terrain cautiously.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5