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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 23rd, 2023–Dec 24th, 2023

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

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Boundary, Stewart, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw.

Wind slabs likely remain reactive to human triggers. Watch for new slabs forming over the day as snowfall begins to stack up.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Widespread natural activity occurred during the storm, mainly on north and east facing wind loaded slopes. Reported avalanches were mostly size 1.5, with a size 2.5 in a confined gully feature.

Explosive control produced the same results, with remotely triggered slab avalanches up to 300 m away indicating touchy conditions.

Snowpack Summary

20-30 cm of recent storm snow has been redistributed by strong winds to deeper deposits on north and east facing slopes. Low elevations may have a surface crust from warm temperatures and rain.

A spotty layer of surface hoar can be found around 25-45 cm deep in sheltered terrain features at and below treeline. The distribution of this layer is not well known.

A layer of facets buried at the end of November can be found 100 to 200 cm below the surface. The snowpack depth varies between 150 and 250 cm at treeline.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Mainly cloudy with 10-15 cm of snow, southerly winds 50-90 km/h. Freezing levels at valley bottom.

Sunday

Cloudy with 10-20 cm of snow. Southerly winds, 40-60 km/h. Freezing levels remain at valley bottom, treeline temperatures near -7 °C.

Monday

Cloudy with 5-15 cm of snow, and southerly winds, 60-80 km/h. Freezing levels rise to 1000 m in the afternoon, treeline temperatures reach -5 °C.

Tuesday

Cloudy with southwest winds, 40-80 km/h. 10-20 cm of snow possible. Freezing levels reach 1000 m, treeline temperatures around -3 °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.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old 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.