Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Northwest Inland.
Avoid wind effected terrain. New rider triggerable wind slab will likely develop on Tuesday at all elevations.
Confidence
Moderate -
Weather Forecast
Monday night: possible temperature inversion with a low of -11 at 1600m. Strong Northwest winds with no new snow expected.
Tuesday: up to 15cm of new snow with strong winds from the Southwest . High of -18 at 1600m.
Wednesday: light Northeast winds with some flurries expected. High of -13 at 1600m.
Thursday: some light flurries ending in the morning. Light North wind and a high of -21 at 1600m.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported over the weekend but observations were limited. If you are out in the mountains please consider making a Mountain Information Network report.
Snowpack Summary
Variable wind over the last week means that wind slab could be found on all aspects in exposed terrain.
The december 15 surface hoar layer is just below the surface in sheltered treeline and below treeline features. It is likely not a problem yet.
An early season crust and facets can be found near the base of the snowpack. This layer now appears to have gone dormant through most of the region but could still be reactive in some shallow snowpack areas.Â
Snowpack depth at treeline typically ranges from 100-200 cm, with higher values in the western part of the region and tapering to the east. In the far southwest of the region, the height of snow is closer to 300 cm.Â
Terrain and Travel
- Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
- Fresh wind slabs will likely form throughout the day, diligently watch for changing conditions.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
The incoming weather will form wind slab in exposed terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2