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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 29th, 2022–Dec 30th, 2022

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

Regions

South Coast Inland, Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, Stein, Taseko.

Human triggering of persistent weak layers deep in the snowpack is possible. Small avalanches on the surface are likely to step down to deeper layers resulting in large, destructive avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, a large, size 3 avalanche was remotely triggered by skiers roughly 100 m away. The avalanche was on a northeast aspect at 2050 m. It ran on a weak layer (80 to 100 cm deep), before scrubbing down to the ground in steep terrain.

Please continue to post your observations and photos to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

10 to 20 cm of low-density snow has been redistributed by strong southerly winds. This overlies an upper snowpack that is relatively stable and well-settled. 40 to 60 cm of moist snow has been buried by the recent snow below 2000 m. The mid and lower snowpack consists of various weak layers and generally unconsolidated snow.

Snowpack depths remain highly variable, roughly 50 to 200 cm at treeline.

Weather Summary

Thursday night

Cloudy with flurries, 0 to 2 cm. Light southerly winds. -5 to -10 C at treeline.

Friday

Cloudy with flurries, 2 to 5 cm. Light southerly winds. -5 to -10 C at treeline.

Saturday

Cloudy with flurries, 0 to 2 cm. Light southwest winds. -5 to -10 C at treeline.

Sunday

Sun and cloud, no precipitation. Light southwest winds. -5 to -10 C at treeline.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
  • Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rock outcroppings and steep convex terrain where triggering is most likely.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.