Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 21st, 2024 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada Parks Canada, Avalanche Canada

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The most recent storm snow still needs time to settle. Be especially cautious moving into steep wind effected terrain in the alpine.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Several natural avalanches were observed in the highway corridor due to a wind spike overnight into Friday. Naturals ran up to size 3 with some running running full feature.

Avalanche control at Rogers Pass on Wednesday produced storm slab avalanches to size 3.

Snowpack Summary

20cm of new snow has fallen with strong, gusty Southerly winds. This lands on a series of storm layers from the last week. Warm temps and sunny weather have created a suncrust on South and West aspects. A persistent weak layer is down 60-90cm. This interface consists of surface hoar in sheltered locations, a sun crust on solar aspects. The snowpack's base is comprised of several early-season melt-freeze rain crusts.

Weather Summary

A series of storms will bring snowfall and warm temperatures to the region over the next few days.

Tonight: Snow: 7 cms , Alp low -4°C, Moderate W wind, Freezing level (FZL) 1400m

Sun: Flurries trace precip, Alp High -4°C, Moderate SW wind, FZL 1400m.

Mon: 4cm, Alp High -4°C, Moderate SW wind, FZL 1500m

Tues: 12 cm. Alp High -5°C, Strong SW winds, FZL 1400m

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

New snow and wind overnight will create a reactive stormslab. This avalanche problem will be most reactive in windloaded lee features.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 22nd, 2024 4:00PM

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