Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 24th, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
wlewis,
Avalanche Canada
Avalanche danger remains high while the storm takes a break.
Heavy snowfall, wind and warm temperatures have added load to a weak snowpack where buried weak layers are primed for human triggering.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
Avalanche activity has increased with the recent snowfall, rise in temperatures and wind. On Friday several remote avalanches were triggered to size 2, where wind loaded features stepped down to a persistent slab, failing on the December 22nd, December 17th or November 21st layers.
Numerous storm slabs were reported in steep terrain features, naturally and human triggered. As storm slabs sit on a layer of surface hoar, reports noted that conditions were very reactive.
A cycle of natural wind slab avalanches to size 1.5 was observed on Thursday morning, driven by the moderate to strong southeast winds. Two size 2 skier accidentals were also reported in north facing wind affected features, failing on the mid December surface hoar. Read about their decision making after triggering the first avalanche here.
Snowpack Summary
Storm snow accumulates over facets, surface hoar or a crust. Westerly winds are redistributing snow into wind loaded features in treeline and alpine terrain.
The snowpack is becoming increasingly complex with several deeper instabilities that may persist through the season, and sustained cold temperatures have continued to facet (weaken) the snowpack. Layers of concern in this snowpack:
The latest snowfall sits on a surface hoar layer from late December. Recent reports indicate the storm snow is sensitive to human triggers.
An early December layer of surface hoar in sheltered areas and a thin sun crust in open south-facing terrain is buried approximately 30-50 cm deep. This layer has recently produced surprising avalanches in upper treeline and lower alpine terrain features.
The most concerning layer buried in mid November is made up of large surface hoar crystals, facets, and a melt-freeze crust and can be found up to 80 cm deep. This layer has been reactive at treeline between 1700 to 2200 m, on all aspects.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Cloudy with 5 cm of snow possible. Freezing level below valley bottom. Moderate to strong southwest winds.
Sunday
Cloudy with trace amounts of new snow expected. Moderate westerly winds with a high of -6°C.
Monday
Heavy snowfall returns with 15-30 cm expected over the day and another 5-15 cm overnight. Temperatures warming to or above 0°C as freezing levels rise to 800 m.
Tuesday
Freezing levels climb to 1500 m over the day, moderate southwest winds. Mixed precipitation is forecast, with 10-30 mm of rain or wet snow expected
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Use increased caution at all elevations. Storm snow is forming touchy slabs.
- Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Be aware of the potential for larger than expected storm slabs due to the presence of buried surface hoar.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm totals reach 40 cm in some areas. Expect reactivity as storm slabs sit over a variety of weak surfaces - facets, a crust and/or surface hoar.
Expect winds to have redistributed snow at treeline and alpine elevations into deeper and more reactive slabs in wind loaded features.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
There are three persistent weak layers of concern buried in the snowpack, see the Snowpack Summary for more details.
Layers of surface hoar can be found in shaded and wind sheltered terrain features primarily at treeline and low alpine elevations, while crusts can be found on sun affected slopes. These layers are most concerning on large open slopes where wide propagation could produce large avalanches.
Small avalanches have the potential to step down to these deeper layers. As snowfall accumulates, these layers are expected to become reactive to human triggers.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 25th, 2022 4:00PM
