Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 24th, 2018 3:14PM

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

Avalanche Canada mbender, Avalanche Canada

A more stable weather pattern is forecast through the Christmas Holiday period.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy with some clear breaks, light south wind, treeline temperature -2 C,  freezing level 600 m.TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy with sunny breaks, light southeast wind, treeline temperature -1 C, freezing level 700 m.WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with flurries, accumulation 5-10 cm, light to moderate southwest winds, treeline temperature -2 C, freezing level 500 m.THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light west winds, treeline temperature -2 C, freezing level 600 m.

Avalanche Summary

Reports indicate that storm snow was reactive to skier traffic on Saturday and Sunday during the last storm. Skiers were able to initiate loose dry and storm slab avalanches. Small loose dry avalanches were also capable of triggering storm slab avalanches, which ran far. The likelihood of triggering this storm snow should decrease as the week progresses and a clearing trend prevails.

Snowpack Summary

Upwards of 60 cm of snow accumulated on Sunday. This snow fell on a melt-freeze crust that was formed during Thursday's storm. Reports indicate that the snow is bonding well to the crust in certain areas but that the storm snow can slide on the crust in other areas. Expect the deepest deposits in lee terrain features around treeline and alpine elevations.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
40 to 60 cm of snow accumulated in the region on the weekend and is now being redistributed by the wind into the lee of terrain features.
Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.Cornices are large and unstable. Give cornices a wide berth.

Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 25th, 2018 2:00PM