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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 28th, 2022–Dec 29th, 2022

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

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Blue River, Clearwater, Premier, Clemina, Esplanade, Jordan, North Monashee, North Selkirk, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla, Whatshan.

There is a Special Public Avalanche Warning in effect for this region. Learn more: avalanche.ca/spaw

Slabs are now primed to release and smaller avalanches may trigger buried weak layers producing large avalanches. It's a good time to play it conservatively.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A natural cycle occurred with numerous recent avalanches in most avalanche paths. In the Kokanee range, large persistent slabs (size 2.5-3) were reported on Tuesday. One of them was remotely triggered by a vehicle on a reloaded bed surface. Others were naturally triggered and stepped down to deeper buried weak layers. Smaller storm slabs avalanches were accidentally human-triggered around Revelstoke and in the Esplanade range.

Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Between 30 and 60 cm of moist dense storm snow is now sitting on previous surfaces, varying from sugary faceted grains, cold unconsolidated snow or a small surface hoar. At higher elevations, new snow has been redistributed on northerly aspects and fresh slabs may not bond well to older surfaces. At lower elevations, a significant rain crust can be found.

In the upper snowpack, up to three weak layers created earlier in December can be found. Some of these may not exist in all areas of our region. The November weak layer, which will continue to be a concern even after this warm-up, can be found anywhere between 75 and 125 cm down. The bottom of the snowpack is generally weak and faceted.

Weather Summary

A low-pressure system will bring light snowfalls to the Monashees and Selkirks Wednesday night. A new Pacific frontal system will push over the interior late Thursday afternoon. A very gradual cooling trend begins with unsettled conditions.

Wednesday night

Cloudy, light snowfalls 2-5 cm, southwesterly ridge winds up to 20 km/h, treeline temperatures -8°C. Freezing level returning to valley bottom.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy, scattered flurries up to 2 cm, southwesterly ridge winds up to 30-40 km/, treeline temperatures -6 °C. Freezing level around 500 m.

Friday

Cloudy, snow 5-10 cm, southerly ridge winds up to 40 km/, treeline temperatures -6°C.

Saturday

Cloudy, isolated flurries, southerly ridge winds up to 20 km/, treeline temperatures -8 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
  • Good day to make conservative terrain choices.
  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • Choose simple, low-angle, well supported terrain without convexities.

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.

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.