Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 13th, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
isnowsell,
Avalanche Canada
Assess for cohesive, windslabs at higher elevations, that may not be bonding particularly well to the underlying surfaces.
Be especially cautious around treeline elevations where the recent snow is more likely to sit on top of a weak layer of preserved surface hoar.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
No other recent avalanche activity has been reported in the region.
If you head out in the backcountry please support your community by submitting a MIN report!
Snowpack Summary
20 to 50cm of recent snow overlies a layer of surface hoar (buried in early December), sized 5-10 mm. Wind slabs are found in wind-exposed, higher-elevation terrain, on various aspects.
A layer that was buried in mid-November can be found down 80 to 120cm deep at treeline and above. This layer consists of a crust below 1200 m and a layer of surface hoar above this elevation. This layer has not shown any recent signs of instability.
In the alpine snowpack depths over 2 meters have been reported but the snowpack below treeline is still generally quite shallow.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy with no precipitation. Light to moderate winds and temperatures -5 to -10 C in the alpine.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with no precipitation. Generally light winds, with potential for strong gusts in the alpine. A temperature inversion is in place by the end of the day, meaning alpine temperatures may be around 0 C.
ThursdayMostly cloudy with no precipitation. Generally light winds, with potential for strong gusts in the alpine. Alpine temperatures range from 0 to 5 C with a temperature inversion throughout the day.
FridayMostly cloudy with no precipitation. Generally light winds, with potential for strong gusts in the alpine. As the temperature inversion breaks down, alpine temperatures will return to the -5 to -10 C range in the afternoon.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
- Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
- Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
- Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.
Problems
Wind Slabs
While windslabs may linger from the recent southerly winds, new windslabs are likely forming with the current northwesterly outflow winds. Winds slabs are likely to overlay a weak layer consisting of surface hoar, facets and/or a crust. Any avalanche in the upper snowpack has the potential to scrub down to these deeper weak layers, making for larger then expected avalanches. This is especially relevant at treeline elevations where surface hoar is more likely larger and better preserved.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 14th, 2022 4:00PM
