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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 30th, 2024–Dec 31st, 2024

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

Regions

South Columbia, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla, Whatshan.

Uncertainty about a persistent weak layer requires careful terrain selection.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Every day from Friday to Sunday, a large remote-triggered avalanche failed the early December layer.

Friday: London Ridge, size 3 avalanche at 2220 m on an east-facing slope.

Saturday: west of Meadow Creek, size 2 at 2280 m on a north-facing slope.

Sunday: west of Revelstoke, size 1.5 at 2200 m on a north-facing slope.

Otherwise, numerous small to large (up to size 2) natural and rider-triggered avalanches were reported in the recent snow, especially in steep terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Expect to find 20 to 50 cm of settling snow in sheltered areas and wind slabs on lee slopes below peaks and ridgelines. On sun-affected slopes, the recent snow covers a melt-and-freeze crust.

A concerning layer of facets, crusts, and/or surface hoar is buried 70 to 120 cm. It is most likely to be a problem on north through east aspects between 1700 to 2300 m.

Treeline snow depths range from 100 to 180 cm.

Weather Summary

Monday night

Mostly cloudy with flurries, up to 5 cm of snow. 5 to 15 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with flurries, up to 5 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy with flurries, 2-5 cm of snow. 5 to 15 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Thursday

Partly sunny. 15 to 25 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.

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.