Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 15th, 2019 8:00AM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Loose Dry.

Parks Canada jonas hoke, Parks Canada

Email

Small avalanches will be easy to trigger in steep terrain. This is as good a time as any to be smart about where you put your uptrack... You never know who might be dropping in above you.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A "slack flow" will continue to give a mix of sun and cloud through this evening. A series of weak fronts beginning Monday will give unsettled weather through the week.

Sunday: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Alpine temps: Low -15 C, High -13 C, light SW ridge wind.

Monday: Cloudy with flurries (up to 5cm). Moderate SW ridge wind.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20 cm of new snow now buries the Dec 11 surface hoar layer. This new snow, combined with light southerly wind, is building pockets of soft storm slab in the Alpine. The Nov 23rd surface hoar/crust/facet combo can be found down +/-100cm (SH is most prevalent in sheltered treeline locations) but has become increasingly stubborn in testing.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches reported or observed.

There were several size 2 natural avalanches in the MacDonald gullies Friday, as well as MIN reports of easily triggered sluffs on all aspects and small skier controlled storm slabs in the Alpine on a North aspect.

Confidence

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

Up to 20 cm of new snow since Dec 11th with light to very light southerly wind. Expect touchy pockets of storm slab in wind exposed features.

  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where small avalanches may have severe consequences.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Dry

An icon showing Loose Dry

Surface snow will be prone to sluffing.

  • Use caution above cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.
  • Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain, particularly where the debris flows into terrain traps.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 16th, 2019 8:00AM