Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 8th, 2022 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada IJ, Avalanche Canada

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We have a thinner snowpack than the last several years. Lot of early season hazards exist and there is a persistent weak layer that is giving us low confidence in the strength of the snowpack.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A few small size 1 windslabs were triggered by snow safety teams in alpine terrain at Sunshine Village today. These were relatively easy to trigger but small in size. No other avalanches observed or reported on Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

5-30cm of snow and wind over the last few days has formed small but reactive wind slabs at higher elevations. These sit on several weak layers including the basal facets/surface hoar/sun crust combo which we are calling the Nov. 16th interface. Average snowpack depths at treeline are 60 to 100 cm throughout the region.

Weather Summary

Moderate to strong S/SW winds are decreasing to light to moderate overnight and into Friday. Alpine temperatures will remain cool in the -10 to -15 range and light flurries can be expected over the next few days with only light accumulation of 1-5 cm by Sunday.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices at this time.
  • Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

A 20-60 cm slab sits over a persistent weak layer of basal facets, sun crusts, or isolated pockets of surface hoar depending on location. This layer has considerable uncertainty associated with it making it hard to forecast, and will be around for some time to come.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

JavaScript chart by amCharts 3.20.8

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

5-30 cm of snow has fallen over the past few days and has been blown into soft wind slabs. These are relatively small but easy to trigger. Watch for these on the immediate lee side of ridges.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

JavaScript chart by amCharts 3.20.8

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Dec 9th, 2022 4:00PM

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