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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 3rd, 2023–Jan 4th, 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, North Rockies, McBride, Quesnel, Sugarbowl, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson, Tumbler.

Consequences could be severe if a persistent weak layer is triggered. Stay disciplined and make conservative terrain choices.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanche activity has been reported in the region. However, there have been a number of reports of spooky stability test results recently.

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

Snowpack Summary

Roughly 30 to 60 cm of low-density snow overlies a generally weak, facetted snowpack with multiple buried weak layers. Of note is a layer buried around Christmas, consisting of facets, surface hoar, and/or a crust, which is down roughly 30 to 40cm from the surface. Another layer that was buried in November generally consists of large, weak facets near the bottom of the snowpack.

Snowpack depths are roughly 100 to 175 cm at treeline.

Weather Summary

Tuesday night

Mostly clear, with a chance of isolated flurries. Light to moderate southwest winds. -5 to -10 C at treeline.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with no precipitation. Light to moderate southwest winds. -5 to -10 C at treeline.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy, with no precipitation. Moderate to strong south winds. 0 to -5 C at treeline.

Friday

Cloudy with flurries. Moderate to strong south winds. 0 to -5 C at treeline. Freezing levels around 700 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be especially cautious near rock outcroppings, on steep convexities and anywhere the snowpack feels thinner than average.
  • Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.

Problems

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.

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.