Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 26th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
Avalanche Canada,
Avalanche Canada
Don't let the break in the storm lure you into consequential terrain.
Wind slabs exist, with the potential to propagate far and wide due to buried crusts.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Thursday, natural storm slab activity continued, with size 2 avalanches reported at treeline, as well as one size 1 remotely triggered by riders from ridgetop above the S2S Gondola.
Monday, a very large (size 3) avalanche was triggered by skiers west of Pemberton. It failed on a rain crust buried 50 to 150 cm deep on a wind-loaded north-facing alpine slope. Several explosive, natural, and human-triggered avalanches were also reported across the region, up to size 2.5.
Snowpack Summary
Recent storm snow accompanied by strong to extreme southerly winds has likely built reactive cornices and deep and reactive slabs on lee slopes. The storm snow may be poorly bonded to an underlying crust, and could result in very large avalanches like the one described in the avalanche summary.
Another buried crust with facets from early December is buried 90 to 160 cm deep at treeline. A layer of surface hoar may also be present in sheltered areas at this same depth.
Weather Summary
Thursday NightCloudy with trace precipitation. 20 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.
FridayPartly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.
Saturday
5 to 20 cm in the overnight period. Cloudy with another 10 to 20 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with up to 10 cm of snow. 10 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
- Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to a buried crust.
- Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been affected by wind.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Reactive wind slabs are expected to exist at all elevations where the storm delivered snow. Watch for corniced slopes.
These slabs may be poorly bonded to a series of buried crusts, creating the potential for very large avalanches.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 27th, 2024 4:00PM
