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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 11th, 2024–Dec 12th, 2024
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Glacier.

Ski quality is good at the moment but be on the lookout for slab development.

A persistent weak layer made up of surface hoar or a sun crust is buried 50-70 cm deep. Remote triggering is possible in areas with a slab at or near the surface.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Natural avalanche activity has tapered off with a few size 1-2.5 avalanches observed in the highway corridor in steep/extreme terrain since Sunday.

Artillery control produced excellent results on Tupper and Macdonald Sat night, with most shots producing sz 2 to sz 3 avalanches from steep start zones, running out onto valley bottom fans. Debris moved fast, likely picking up speed and mass on the buried surface hoar.

Snowpack Summary

50-70cm of storm snow sits on a sun crust on steep solar aspects. In sheltered locations, this new snow sits atop surface hoar. Strong SW winds at the end of the storm created surface slab conditions on exposed Treeline and Alpine slopes.

There is a dense, well-settled mid-pack without any significant weak layers.

The Nov 9 crust is down 1-1.5m. The base of the snowpack is comprised of several dense, melt-freeze rain crusts formed in October.

Weather Summary

A ridge of high pressure is pushed out by an incoming storm on Friday night.

Tonight: Cloudy. Alp Low -4. Light winds, Freezing level(FLZ): 600 m

Thurs: Cloudy with sunny periods. No prec. Alp high -3. Light SW winds. FLZ: 1400 m

Fri: Cloudy w/flurries. Trace precipitation. Light to Moderate SW winds. FLZ: 1200 m

Sat : Flurries, 5-10 cm. Alpine high -4 °C. Light gusting to Moderate SW winds. FLZ: 1100 m

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slabs

65cm of snow and strong SW winds formed a slab that sits on a surface hoar layer in sheltered zones, and overlies a sun crust on steep, solar aspects. Rider triggered avalanches are possible where the surface hoar is reactive.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 3

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs have formed in exposed terrain at treeline and in the alpine in recent storm snow. Use caution in this terrain if surface snow feels stiffer and is cracking around skis.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2