Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 20th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs.
isnowsell,
Avalanche Canada
Approach avalanche terrain with caution, especially in areas where the presence of buried surface hoar remains a concern.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanche observations have been reported.
If you go out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
Snowpack Summary
Roughly 20 cm of new snow has accumulated over the last week. This may have buried a layer of surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain. A crust formed during the early December rain event exists down roughly 30 to 60 cm from the surface and is highly variable in strength, and thickness at this time.
A concerning layer of buried surface hoar is 60 to 100 cm below the surface at treeline and above.
Lower snowpack is generally facetted, with no particular layers of concern currently. The height of snow at treeline is roughly 80 to 150 cm.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow, west alpine winds 30 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -2 °C.
Thursday
Cloudy with 0 to 3 cm of snow, west alpine winds 30 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -2 °C.
Friday
Cloudy with 2 to 10 cm of snow, southwest alpine winds 40 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -2 °C.
Saturday
Mostly sunny, with no precipitation, northwest alpine winds 20 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -8 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices at this time.
- Avoid areas where the snow feels stiff and/or slabby.
- Start on smaller terrain features and gather information before committing to bigger terrain.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
A problematic layer of surface hoar exists down roughly 60 to 100 cm from the surface. This is currently an ideal depth for human triggering.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 21st, 2023 4:00PM
