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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 5th, 2024–Dec 6th, 2024

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

Regions

South Columbia, Shuswap, Dogtooth, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, North Okanagan, Retallack, Valhalla, Whatshan.

Wind slabs may remain reactive in alpine terrain, particularly on steep slopes around ridgetops.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A few wet loose avalanches up to size 2 have been reported throughout the region over the last 3 days, all on south-facing terrain. These likely occurred during periods of strong solar and/or above-freezing alpine temperatures.

Snowpack Summary

Surface conditions vary from wind-affected snow in exposed terrain at higher elevations, and settling snow in sheltered areas. Surface hoar development is widespread and a crust has formed on steeper slopes exposed to the sun.

Buried surface hoar can be found 5 to 20 cm deep.

The mid snowpack is generally well settled, with an early November crust buried 50 to 100 cm deep.

Snow depths at treeline are roughly 80 to 150 cm, and decreases rapidly at lower elevations.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Mostly clear with a chance of valley cloud. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.

Friday

Mostly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C, with a chance of warmer alpine temperatures in some local areas.

Saturday

Cloudy with 10 to 30 cm of snow. 40 to 60 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with 2 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.

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.