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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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Cariboos, North Rockies, McBride, Premier, Quesnel, Sugarbowl, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson, Tumbler.

Approach wind loaded features with caution, especially around treeline where fresh slabs may sit on a persistent weak layer.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported on the persistent weak layer, but we've had reports of shooting cracks and whumpfing at treeline. With very few field observations, there is great uncertainty around this layer and professionals have their guard up.

On Sunday operators in the region reported a natural windslab avalanche cycle to size 2 from the previous 24 to 48 hours.

Thank you for all the MIN reports! They are extremely helpful to us in the early season when snowpack information is limited. Please continue to share your observations via the Mountain Information Network

Snowpack Summary

Small inputs of new snow continue to accumulate, bringing recent totals to 20 - 40 cm in sheltered areas at treeline. Where winds have redistributed fresh snow, soft slabs are forming in lee terrain features.

A weak layer of surface hoar, facets, and/or melt-freeze crust can be found down 40-70 cm. This layer is more likely to be reactive where wind distribution has created a cohesive slab over it.

Snowpack depths range from 70 cm at treeline to 140 cm in the alpine. Below treeline snowpack is thin and faceted creating an additional challenge when accessing higher areas.

Weather Summary

Thursday night

Cloudy with scattered flurries bringing around 5 cm of new snow. Southwesterly ridge top winds 40 to 50 km/hr. Alpine temperature low -10.

Friday

Broken skies with scattered flurries bringing a trace of new snow. Southwesterly ridge top winds 30 to 40 km/hr. Alpine temperature high of -8.

Saturday

Cloudy with flurries bringing up to 5 cm. Ridgetop winds gusting to 70 km/hr from the southeast. Alpine high temperature -6 and a low of -12.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy. Calm. Alpine high temperature -8 and a low of -16.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.