Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 21st, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
wlewis,
Avalanche Canada
Wind slabs may have formed at higher elevations, approach ridgelines and mid slopes rollovers with caution.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
There is no new avalanche activity to report.
If you do go into the backcountry, consider submitting a Mountain Information Network report.
Snowpack Summary
10-25 cm of new snow has fallen over previously wind-affected surfaces at higher elevations.
Two different surface hoar layers have been reported in the upper snowpack and appear to be most prominent at treeline and below. Snowpack depth at treeline is 50 to 100 cm.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Cloudy with 5-10 cm of snow, southerly winds 70-100 km/h. Freezing levels remain above 1000 m until morning.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with 2-5 cm of snow, southwest winds 30-50 km/h, treeline high temperature -1 °C, freezing levels fall from 700 m to valley bottom by afternoon.
Saturday
Increasing cloud with a chance of flurries, and southerly winds 50-60 km/h. Treeline temperatures -4 °C, freezing level at valley bottom.
Sunday
Cloudy with light snowfall. Freezing levels rise to 1500 m, treeline temperatures around -1 °C. Strong southerly winds, 60-100 km/h.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Pay attention to the wind, once it starts to blow fresh sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
- Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Fresh wind slabs formed on Thursday are likely still reactive to human triggers.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
A layer of buried surface hoar can be found 30-50 cm below the snow surface. It is reported to be deeper and more reactive in the western part of the region.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 22nd, 2023 4:00PM
