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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 8th, 2022–Dec 9th, 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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Coquihalla, Harrison-Fraser, Manning, Skagit.

For the best riding seek out sheltered slopes with the deepest snowpack that hasn't been wind-affected. Be extra cautious at treeline and higher elevations on the downwind side of ridges and rib features.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new reports since the weekend. Keep sharing your observations via the MIN; it helps strengthen our information gathering.

Snowpack Summary

In deeper zones near ridges the snowpack is around 120 to 170 cm, which is low for early December. Alpine terrain in windy areas is scoured and bare.

Surface: Boot top powder in deep areas. Same old crusts, facets, and rocks on wind scoured slopes.Upper-pack: In sheltered areas below the fresh snow is well developed surface hoar. Generally there's 40 to 70 cm of low density and faceting (aka weak) snow in the upper pack.Mid-pack: November crust, with a layer of soft facets above. This is the primary weak layer, found pretty much halfway down.Lower-pack: facets and depth hoar (aka not strong).

Weather Summary

Thursday NightStorm winding down so only a few cm of snow overnight. Total accumulation for the past two days around 15 to 20 cm in deeper snow areas like the Coquihalla. SW wind diminishing to light. Treeline temps around -10 C

FridayMix of sun & cloud depending where you are, flurries bringing just a trace of snow. Light SW wind. Temps near treeline around -10 C.

Saturday

Another weak disturbance bringing maybe 5 to 10 cm of snow with moderate SW wind. Treeline temperatures warming to around -5 C.

Sunday

Dry to a trace of snow with flurries. Mostly cloudy. Light wind but from a new direction -- north or east outflow in the passes and valleys. Steady temperatures in the -5 to -10 range up at treeline.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
  • The best and safest riding will be on slopes that have soft snow without any slab properties.

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.