Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 5th, 2019 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Parks Canada jesse milner, Parks Canada

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Kick the tires and light the fires! Reports of excellent skiing at treeline right now.

Summary

Weather Forecast

More snow on the horizon. 

Friday: Periods of snow. Up to 15cm with temps around -5 to -10. Light to moderate SW winds.

Saturday: Flurries with up to 10cm. Light SW winds and temps ranging from -5 to -15.

Sunday: Sun and cloud with cooler temps -10 to -20 with mostly light winds

Details here: Mountain Weather Forecast.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30cm of new snow in the Columbia Icefields area fell on to a mix of surfaces; surface facets, surface hoar, and previous wind slab and/or hard wind pressed surfaces. The moderate winds built soft wind slabs at ridge tops. Oct. and Nov. crusts are preserved in the mid and lower snowpack and both seem have a good bond to the overlaying snow.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control work in the Parker Ridge area yesterday produced little results, only 2 soft size 2 wind slabs were triggered from 15 explosive shots. On our drive back to town we had decent visibility and observed no new natural avalanches.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Saturday

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

New soft windslabs have formed in the lee areas from the storm that just pushed through. The distribution at treeline is more isolated.

  • Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline. Recent storm snow has formed wind slabs.
  • Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 6th, 2019 4:00PM