Hwy 93 is closed - avalanche control is planned for Friday December 24 with estimated opening 1800hrs. Call or click 511 for details.
New wind slab and extreme cold temps should be on your mind when you venture out.
Up to 35cm new snow in the past 48 hrs with moderate to strong winds building wind slabs on lee and cross loaded features. Slab development not isolated to ridgecrest and can be found low in terrain features from the strong to extreme winds Dec 21.
Dry loose cycle will persist for the short term from steep terrain.
This problem although stubborn persists in isolated alpine terrain and can initiate with a large trigger or rapid loading. Use extra caution in thin areas were humans are most likely to trigger this high consequence layer.
Precipitation and winds will taper off Thursday night as the Arctic high settles in.
Friday
Isolated flurries
Accumulation: trace
Alpine temperature: High -19 C.
Ridge wind light.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
Saturday
Flurries.
Accumulation: 4 cm.
Alpine temperature: Low -31 C, High -24 C.
Ridge wind light east.
Clearing Sunday with more extreme cold.
20-35cm (25mm) low density storm snow over the past 48 hrs accompanied by moderate to strong SW winds adding to wind slab development in the alpine and on exposed terrain features at treeline. The mid-pack is supportive with a weak rain crust up to 1950m. Cold temperatures and a crust/facet layer near the base continues to promote basal faceting.
Limited visibility icefields area - one size 2 deep persistent 1m deep by 75m wide observed likely triggered by cornice N alpine feature; a few wind slabs noted to size 1.5 northerly aspects alpine; numerous dry loose to size 1.5 all elev
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