Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 21st, 2019 4:10PM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is high, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

Parks Canada Adam Greenberg, Parks Canada

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Sunday afternoon will bring an end to the storm, but continued overnight wind and snowfall will keep the hazard elevated until freezing levels descend and the snowpack has had time to adjust to the load.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Weather models are conflicted on snowfall amounts for Saturday night with amounts between 8 to 20cm expected. Strong winds will continue overnight with a lull on Sunday where we may even see some sun. Freezing level is expected to remain around 1700m descending to valley bottom by Monday night.

Snowpack Summary

60cm+ of wet snow and rain in the Cameron Lake area has arrived with extreme northwest winds and a freezing level around 1900m, continuing to load the snowpack. A weak crust facet combo formed in November is down 60cm, and additional crust/facet layers formed in October form the bottom of the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

A widespread natural cycle was observed on Saturday along the Red Rock and Akamina parkways, with avalanches to size 2 in the storm snow and some larger ones failing on deep persistent weak layers

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

Continued snowfall accompanied by 120km/h southwest winds has formed touchy slabs

  • Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
  • If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

Recent Rain, snow and warm temperatures has begun to overload melt freeze crusts and facets from early season snowfalls causing large avalanches.

  • Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Dec 24th, 2019 4:00PM

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