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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 26th, 2023–Dec 27th, 2023

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

Regions

Kootenay Boundary, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, South Okanagan, Ymir, Moyie, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla.

Forecast wind may form fresh wind slabs on lee features at treeline and above.

Avoid steep, rocky, and wind affected areas where triggering slabs are more likely.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported in this region on Monday.

Data in this region is limited. Please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Snowpack Summary

A dusting of new snow overlies a thin layer of surface hoar at treeline and below. In the alpine 10-15 cm of snow and strong southwest wind are forming wind slabs on lee features.

40 to 60 cm deep is a hard crust. Below this crust, a weak layer of surface hoar is present in some areas.

Average snowpack depths at treeline are 70-130 cm. Snow depth tapers rapidly below treeline.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy with no precipitation, southwest alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -4 °C.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and cloud, south alpine wind 40 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -3 °C, freezing levels rise to 1500 m through the day.

Thursday

Cloudy with isolated flurries, up to 2 cm snow, southwest alpine wind 30 to 60 km/h, treeline temperature -1 °C.

Friday

Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, trace amounts of snow, southwest alpine wind 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -1 °C.

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.
  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.

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.