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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 25th, 2013–Dec 26th, 2013

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

Regions

Northwest Inland.

Confidence

Poor - Wind speed and direction is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Synopsis: The next frontal wave with push onto the north coast early Thursday morning causing temperatures to spike before it shifting southwards. Expect light precip Thursday followed by a clearing trend into the weekend.Tonight and Thursday. Snow amounts: 10 to 15 cm falling as rain at lower elevation. Freezing levels: Rising to 1500m. Ridge winds: Moderate south-westerly. Friday. Snow amounts: light flurries. Ridge winds: Moderate south-westerly. Alpine temps: -5Saturday. Snow amounts: nil , Ridge winds Light westerly. Alpine temps: -5.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche have been reported.

Snowpack Summary

There is significant variation in snow depths across the region. In the Smithers area the ski hill is reporting an 111 cm base with the Ashman trailer is around the same. Treeline depths vary between 100 - 200 cm.The region has received up to 10cm of snow in the last 24 hours. Between 30 and 80cm of snow now rests upon a crust that extend up to treeline and possibly beyond. This interface has been popping under easy loads in snowpack tests.We don't have great wind stations in the region, but the coast saw a lot of strong wind during the last storm & I suspect this region was similarly hammered, forming windslabs in the alpine and at treeline.Deeper in the snow pack a layer of facets/surface hoar formed during the early December cold/dry spell can be found in the top 100cm in the Ashman . The mid and lower snowpack is still structurally weak and faceted. Depth hoar and an early season crust exist near the ground.

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.