Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 25th, 2019 4:00PM

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

Parks Canada william lawson, Parks Canada

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Controlling the urge to ski the fresh powder on big features will be the most important factor to avoiding an avalanche incident. Stick to lower angled slopes with little overhead hazard. There have been a few close calls already.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Clear skies Thursday with minimal inputs of wind. Increase cloud Friday with a chance of flurries, no significant snow accumulations expected.

Snowpack Summary

30-60cm of settled storm snow has formed storm slabs all elevations and aspects. Below the new snow the snowpack structure is generally weak, consisting of facets and depth hoar and a Nov crust up to 2500m. These weak layers are getting overloaded with all of the new snow.

Avalanche Summary

Natural avalanche activity to size 3 on all aspects and elevations has slowed from a few days ago. Explosive control today continued to produce large avalanches to size 3 running full path. Skier triggered avalanches continue to be reported in the forecast region.

Confidence

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

Storm slabs continue to be reactive. Natural activity has lessened but the likelihood of triggering an avalanche is high.

  • If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs

The weak, faceted mid and lower pack is overloaded by the new storm snow at all elevations. If you trigger the deep facets it will result in a very large avalanche.

  • Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3.5

Valid until: Dec 26th, 2019 4:00PM

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