Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 24th, 2021 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Dry.
William Lawson,
If you can brave the cold, there's great skiing to be had in sheltered areas.
Stay warm, eat well. Happy Holidays from Parks Canada.
Summary
Weather Forecast
An Arctic air mass moving into the forecast region will bring cold temperatures this week. Day time high temps will be near -20 at valley bottom with the evening lows dropping below -30. Light snow will continue over the weekend with accumulation amount of 5 to 10cm by Monday.
Snowpack Summary
5-30cm over the last 2 days with strong winds have developed wind slabs at treeline and above. There is 50-70cm over the Dec 2 rain crust (exists below 2200m) but has not been observed as active yet. We are monitoring it closely. The lower snowpack is well settled but shallow areas (<100 cm) may still have a DPS issue near the ground.
Avalanche Summary
No new natural avalanche activity reported Friday. Local ski hills continue to see new reactive wind slab forming at ridge crest producing small avalanches in previously controlled terrain. On Thursday we received reports of reactive wind slabs at treeline and softer, loose dry at lower elevations that were running far and fast.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
New snow and previous strong winds have created windslabs down into treeline. Some observations of these being reactive to ski cutting.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
Steep terrain will have this problem continue in the short term. Slough management will be important, and climbers should be aware of areas that got more snow than expected.
- Be careful of loose dry power sluffing in steep, confined or exposed terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 25th, 2021 4:00PM
