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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 23rd, 2013–Dec 24th, 2013

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 unlikely, human triggered possible.
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

Northwest Inland.

Forecasters are working with very limited field data at this time. If you are out playing in the hills we'd love to hear about what you're seeing.  Send your observations to [email protected].

Confidence

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Synopsis: A return to a drier, colder, northwesterly flow will occur tonight. This is forecast to persist briefly until the next system hits the NW of the province. This system resembles the last and is expected to once again bring moderate snowfall to the region.Tonight and Tuesday: Cloudy, with scattered flurries starting later in the day. The arrival of the cold front will keep freezing levels down at valley bottom. Ridgetop winds will be strong to extreme from the west. Wednesday: Temperatures will rise as the warm front pushes onto the coast. Freezing levels are expected to climb up to 1600m. Winds will be moderate from the west gusting to strong.Thursday: Periods of snow will persist through the day. Freezing levels are expected to remain high. Winds will be moderate from the southwest.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches have been reported lately.

Snowpack Summary

There is significant variation in snow depths across the region. In the Smithers area the ski hill is reporting an 111 cm base while the Ashman trailer is around the same. Treeline depths vary between 100 - 200 cm.The region picked up 10 - 40 cm of new snow in the weekends storm. The upper snow pack is likely to be " upside down" as the new snow is sitting on top of 10 to 30 cm of cold snow from earlier in the week. Below 1100m the upper snow pack is rests upon a crust. Deeper in the snow pack a layer of facets/surface hoar can be found above old wind slabs and melt-freeze crusts, formed during the December cold/dry spell. We don't have great wind stations in the region, but the coast saw a lot of strong wind during the last storm & I suspect this region was similarly hammered by wind. The mid and lower snowpack is still structurally weak and faceted. Depth hoar and early season crust near the ground.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.