Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 24th, 2022 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada dsaly, Avalanche Canada

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Avalanche hazard will remain elevated with continued precipitation, strong wind, and rising freezing levels.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No notable recent avalanches have been reported, however poor weather and road closures have limited observations.

Please continue to post your observations and photos to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Above the rain-snow line, 15-20 cm of fresh snow accumulated around the region by Saturday.

Fresh snow covered a layer of facetted and unconsolidated snow which formed during the recent cold weather. Steady southwest winds are impacting loose snow and ongoing flurries.

Rain at lower elevations has begun to saturate the snowpack. Freezing levels are forecast to rise, we can expect to see moist surface snow reach all elevations.

The snowpack is generally well settled and bonding well. Snowpack depths reach 200 cm at treeline and higher.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Rain and wet flurries, 10-20 mm, snow-rain line between 1600-2100 m. Ridgetop low temperature -1 C. Southwest wind 30-50 km/hr. Warm air aloft could bring freezing levels above 2000 m.

Sunday

Continued precipitation and rising freezing levels will produce a variety of frozen water forms including freezing rain at roadside elevations.

Wet flurries and rain, 5-10 mm. Ridgetop high temperature +2 C. Southwest wind 25-50 km/hr. Freezing level rising above 2000 m at the end of the day.

Monday

Heavy rain with freezing levels spiking above 2500 m, 15-30 mm. Ridgetop high temperatures +3 C. Southwest wind 40-60 km/hr.

Tuesday

Rain showers turn to snow as temperatures drop overnight, with 10 cm possible by morning. Ridgetop high temperature +2 C. Southwest wind 30-50 km/hr. Freezing level 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
  • Minimize exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind or rain.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.

Problems

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

Watch for rising freezing levels and rain-on-snow and turning surface snow moist and saturating the snowpack at lower elevations. In the case of wet avalanches, the first 24 hours of rain-on-snow are the most hazardous as large, destructive avalanches are most likely to occur.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

Where dry snow prevails, the new snow has a weak bond to the interface below. Be especially cautious transitioning into wind-loaded terrain, more reactive deposits lurk in leeward features.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 25th, 2022 4:00PM