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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 27th, 2023–Dec 28th, 2023

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

Regions

Cariboos, Clearwater, McBride, Quesnel, Sugarbowl.

There are very few field observations coming from this forecast area. Submit a MIN if you head out!

Uncertainty around buried weak layers is best managed with conservative terrain choices.

Confidence

No Rating

Avalanche Summary

Over the weekend in the neighbouring region to the east, many large (size 2 to 3) natural and rider-triggered (some remotely triggered) persistent and deep persistent slabs were reported in the alpine and treeline.

We are unsure if the same deep persistent slab problem exists in this region, and this uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices.

Moving forward, natural avalanche activity may taper, but large human-triggered slabs remain possible.

Snowpack Summary

Recent strong winds have created heavily wind-affected surfaces in the alpine and treeline. Below treeline a new crust is on or near the surface.

The mid pack contains several layers of note; a layer of surface hoar and a crust down 20 to 40 cm, a significant crust from the early December rain event down around 50 cm and a layer of surface hoar down 50 to 90 cm.

The make up of the lower snowpack is variable throughout the region, in shallower snowpack areas, basal facets may exist.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Mainly cloudy. Southeast alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperature -3 C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Thursday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. South alpine wind 25 to 60 km/h. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud, no new snow. Southeast alpine wind 15 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud, no new snow. Southeast alpine wind 40 to 60 km/h. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Use careful route-finding and stick to moderate slope angles with low consequences.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.