Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 19th, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
isnowsell,
Avalanche Canada
Remember that a deep persistent layer remains a concern despite the lack of recent avalanche activity. Small avalanches on the surface could step down to deeper layers, creating large avalanches.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity has been reported over the last few days.
If you head out into the mountains, please share your photos or observations on the Mountain Information Network. Your information helps us understand local conditions!
Snowpack Summary
Up to 10cm of recent, low-density snow continues to facet with cold temperatures. Surface snow is cold, light, and ideal to be redistributed by wind into drifts and stiff wind slabs. The new snow overlays an upper snowpack generally made up of old, settled wind-affected snow and a crust on solar aspects.
A layer made up of weak facets and depth hoar is found at the bottom of the snowpack. It is most prominent in shallow snowpack areas that are generally unconsolidated and lack any cohesion in the upper snowpack.
In general, the snowpack is highly variable, ranging from 50 to 200 cm around treeline.
Weather Summary
Monday night
Mostly cloudy with a trace of snow. Temperatures around -20 C and light Southwesterly winds in the alpine.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with snow, up to 5 cm. Temperature -15 to -25 C and light to moderate Westerly winds in the alpine.
Snow and wind values are lower as you move North of the Duffey.
Wednesday
Sunny with periods of cloud, and no precipitation. Temperatures -20 to -30 C and light to moderate Northeast winds.
Thursday
Sunny with periods of cloud, and no precipitation. Temperatures -15 to -25 C and generally light Northeast winds.
WednesdayMore details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind exposed terrain.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Winds are redistributing the recent low-density snow into potentially reactive windslabs. With cold temperatures windslabs will likely take longer then usual to stabilize and bond to the underlaying surfaces.
Remember that small wind slabs on the surface could scrub down to deeper weak layers in the snowpack, resulting in bigger then expected avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
A weak layer at the bottom of the snowpack is most prominent in areas with shallower snow depths. Primarily a concern in areas where a cohesive upper snow pack exists above the weak layer (like large wind affected slopes) and even a small avalanche could scrub down to the weak layer.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 20th, 2022 4:00PM
