Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 20th, 2020 3:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada jmacpherson, Avalanche Canada

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Rapidly changing conditions. Avoid avalanche terrain.   

Summary

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Snow expected to begin later tonight bringing 3-8cm . Wind will continue thought the night with gust close to 100km. Snow will increase throughout Monday right in to Tuesday evening could bring 20-25cm.

Avalanche Summary

A few natural slab avalanche up to size 2 on all aspects except for west aspects. There were also a few more loose dry from steeper terrain running quite far. 

Snowpack Summary

Up to 25cm of new snow, with very strong winds lee slopes would have much more snow possibly up to 1m. 20-100cm overlying the Dec 8th facet crust interface. Wide spreed wind affect in Alpine in to open tree line features. Caution for reverse loading with the strong North winds. Found soft to hard slabs. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for fresh storm slabs building throughout the day.
  • Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.
  • Watch for changing conditions today, storm slabs may become increasingly reactive.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

This is a buried wind slab, 20-60cm down have not seen much activity on this layer but could become reactive with load. Could be more of a crust on South aspects.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

2.5 - 3.5

Valid until: Dec 21st, 2020 3:00PM

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