Avalanche Forecast
South Columbia
New snow is falling on numerous weak layers. As the snow gains slab properties, natural and human-triggered avalanches will become more likely. Assess the upper snowpack to observe for these slab properties. Cautious route finding is advised.
Avalanche Problem 1: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid open slopes and convex rolls at treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
- Watch for signs of slab formation, such as whumpfing and shooting cracks.
- Use conservative route selection. Choose moderate-angled and well-supported terrain.
Avalanche Problem 2: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
New snow will likely move easily, as it is falling on a recently buried weak layer and/or a crust.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequence of a small avalanche could be serious.
- Use caution when entering lee areas. Recent wind loading may have created wind slabs.
Avalanche Summary
Recent natural, skier-triggered, snowmobile-triggered, and skier-remoted avalanches have been reported on the December 15 layer at and below treeline on all aspects. The avalanches were generally small, being reported between size 1 and 2. Numerous reports of whumphing were also noted in low elevation cutblocks and flat terrain.
Sluffing was also noted within the new snow in steep terrain. Reactivity of the storm and persistent slabs are likely to increase as the upper snowpack forms slab properties.
Snowpack Summary
10-20 cm of new snow fell on surface hoar in sheltered slopes and a sun crust on steep solar aspects and may not bond well to them. The snow also may have fallen with moderate southwesterly winds in the alpine, which could have produced small wind slabs in lee features.
The additional snow could create a dangerous slab above buried weak layers. Numerous persistent weak layers exist in the snowpack. Dry snow overlies two layers composed of weak and feathery surface hoar, with the deeper layer (December 15) buried 40 to 80 cm. This layer is found most often around and below treeline. As the overlying dry snow becomes more cohesive and forms a slab, this layer has the potential to create easily-triggerable destructive slab avalanches. Where and when this will occur is tricky to predict and even professionals are scratching their heads about it. It is a good time for conservative decision-making.
Deeper in the snowpack (90 to 150 cm), a November crust is producing variable test results, from sudden fracture characters to no result. This layer is considered dormant but could be triggered where the snowpack is thin.
Please share your observations through the Mountain Information Network.
Weather Forecast
SUNDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 10-20 cm, moderate westerly winds increasing to strong into the evening, alpine temperature near -7 C, freezing level near 1000 m.
MONDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 5-10 cm, light to moderate southwesterly winds, alpine temperature near -3 C, freezing level near 1200 m.
TUESDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 10-20 cm, light to moderate southwesterly winds, alpine temperature near -6 C, freezing level near valley bottom.
Avalanche Forecasts in your Inbox
Avalanche Canada has switched to an RSS feed for its daily forecasts. This is a much more flexible method that allows automatic delivery to your email inbox, or to an RSS reader of your choice.
What are RSS feeds?
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a popular standardized file format allowing up-to-date delivery of web-based content. RSS feeds enable you to receive content updates from websites, delivered to your email through an RSS aggregator (such as blogtrottr.com) or viewed through applications called RSS readers (such as feedly.com).
Set up an RSS feed for your email:
Select a RSS aggregator
- South Columbia URL:
http://www.avalanche.ca/api/forecasts/south-columbia.rss - Copy the url and paste it into the appropriate field of your RSS aggregator.
- Fill in your email address.
- Voila! Watch the Avalanche Canada forecast roll into your inbox.
Forecast Disclaimer
Avalanche Canada's Public Avalanche Bulletin, and other information and services provided by Avalanche Canada, are intended for personal and recreational purposes only.
**THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PROVIDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES RESULTING FROM DISCOMFORT, INJURY, OR DEATH, CLAIMS BY THIRD PARTIES OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR COSTS, OR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE INFORMATION.**
The user acknowledges that it is impossible to accurately predict natural events such as avalanches in every instance, and uses the data in this bulletin with this always foremost in mind. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and the Providers disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use the data.
Around 40 to 80 cm of snow sits above two weak layers. As this snow continues to settle and gain slab properties, a dangerous slab that is easily triggered may form.