Avalanche forecast

North Columbia

Dec 6 – 7, 2023Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Give the new snow a little bit more time to settle.

Monitor how the new snow is bonding to old surfaces as you move through the terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Human triggered avalanche activity to be expected where the new snow overlays large buried surface hoar.

    Expect deep pockets of wind deposited snow.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

There have been very few observations in our area. Expect avalanche activity especially in areas where new snow has covered surface hoar.

Snowpack Summary

Varied amounts of snow and rain, 5 to 20 cm, has fallen in our region since Monday morning. This overlies the up to 40 cm of new snow from this past weekend. This has buried a layer of large surface hoar.  On steep south-facing slopes this surface hoar may have developed on top of a sun crust. Expect to find wind slabs at higher elevations.

The mid-pack is generally unconsolidated. A crust with sugary facets beneath it can be found just above the ground.

The snowpack is still shallow for this time of year. The average snowpack depth at treeline ranges from 70 to 90 cm.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Cloudy, up to 5 cm accumulation in some places, alpine winds southwest 30 to 40 km/h, freezing level around 1500 m.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, trace to 5 cm accumulation, alpine winds southwesterly 20 to 33 km/h, freezing level at 1500 m.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy, trace accumulation, alpine winds south 10 to 15 km/h, treeline temperatures around -10 °C.

Friday

Mix of sun and cloud, up to 5 cm accumulation, alpine winds west 10 to 25 km/h, treeline temperatures around -10 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
  • Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
  • Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.

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