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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 12th, 2022–Dec 13th, 2022

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Northwest Inland, Kispiox, Microwave-Sinclair, Ningunsaw, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Generally, the snowpack depth is highly variable due to the early season wind effect. The best riding will be in sheltered features with a deeper snowpack that have been previously wind loaded.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

A few reports over the weekend of sluffing or loose dry avalanches occurring in steep terrain that has been sheltered from the wind. Otherwise, no other recent avalanche activity has been reported in the region.

Thank you for the MIN reports! They are extremely helpful to us! If you head into the backcountry please submit a MIN report!

Snowpack Summary

In general, the snowpack is highly wind affected resulting in a wide variation in snowpack depths. Depths at treeline range from 50 to 125cm.

Upper Snowpack

10-20cm of recent low-density snow in areas sheltered from the wind. Isolated pockets of windslab are hard to find but still exist in wind-exposed terrain at higher elevations.

Mid-pack

Generally well settled. A mid-November crust and facet layer is down approximately 60cm from the surface and is reportedly bonding well.

Lower-pack

Weak sugary snow (basal facets).

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Cloudy with scattered flurries. Light to moderate southwest winds and temperatures around -10 C in the lower alpine.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud with a chance of light flurries. Light to moderate southwest winds and temperatures around -15 to -10 C in the lower alpine.

Wednesday

A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Moderate to strong west winds and temperature around -5 to -10 C in the lower alpine.

Thursday

Cloudy, no snow expected. Moderate to strong west winds and temperature around -5 to -10 C in the lower alpine.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
  • Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.

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.