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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 9th, 2022–Dec 10th, 2022

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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Okanagan, Shuswap, North Okanagan.

Look for signs of instability like natural avalanches, whumpfing and shooting cracks. Wind slabs at treeline could have formed over touchy surfaces like crusts and surface hoar making them larger and more sensitive to triggering.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been observed or reported in this region. However, note that we have had very few field observations. Please consider filling out a Mountain Information Network report if you are heading to the backcountry.

Snowpack Summary

Recent new snow, up to 20cm, has been redistributed by southwest winds forming wind slab. On south facing slopes this new snow has fallen on a sun crust and in sheltered terrain it sits over a layer of surface hoar.

Buried 30 to 50cm deep, a layer of surface hoar, crust, and faceted crystals is the persistent layer of concern. Observations are limited in this region but this layer has already produced avalanches in the neighboring regions.

Snowpack depths at upper treeline are generally less than a meter.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Flurries with up to 5cm of new snow expected. Southerly winds increasing throughout the night, strong by early Saturday morning. Low of -9 at 1800m.

Saturday

Cloudy with up to 5cm of new snow. Strong southerly winds in the morning becoming light in the afternoon. High of -5 at 1800m.

Sunday

Flurries in the morning bringing trace amounts of new snow and then clearing in the afternoon. High of -6 at 1800m. Light easterly winds.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud with the possibility of light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light winds and a high of -9 at 1800m.

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.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
  • Potential for wide propagation exists, fresh slabs may rest on surface hoar, facets and/or crust.

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.