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 Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
mbender,
Avalanche Canada
The forecast calls for light amounts of precipitation and a rise in the freezing level over the next few days. If the wind picks up, watch for fresh wind slab formation at upper elevations.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
There is no new avalanche activity to report.
If you do go into the backcountry, consider submitting a Mountain Information Network report.
Snowpack Summary
5-15 cm of new snow may be obscuring on previously wind-affected surfaces at higher elevations.
Two different surface hoar layers have been reported in the upper half of the snowpack and appear to be most prominent at treeline and below. Snowpack depth at treeline is 50 to 100 cm.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy with 3-5 cm of snow, ridgetop winds southwest 15-30 km/h, treeline temperature -4 °C, freezing level 500 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with 4 to 10 cm of snow, ridgetop wind south and southwest 20-50 km/h, treeline temperature -3 °C, freezing level 1000 m
FridayMostly cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow, ridgetop wind southwest west 30-50 km/h, treeline temperature -1 °C, freezing level 500 m.
SaturdayMix of sun and cloud with a chance of flurries, ridgetop wind west 15-25 km/h, treeline temperatures -4 °C, Freezing level at valley bottom.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Pay attention to the wind, once it starts to blow fresh sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
- Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
Problems
Wind Slabs
New snow and wind forecast for Thursday will continue to promote wind slab development.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
A layer of buried surface hoar can be found 30-50 cm below the snow surface. It is reported to be deeper and more reactive in the western part of the region.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 21st, 2023 4:00PM
