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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 11th, 2020–Dec 12th, 2020
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
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
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
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Glacier.

The recent storm snow has settled and started to bond but the variability of the persistent layer below means testing is needed before committing to a line

Weather Forecast

No new snow today, cloudy skies may clear in the afternoon while winds stay calm. Freezing level is due to rise to 1000m. Tomorrow will be similar with a bit more cloud, possible flurries and winds picking up from the west in the evening. Sunday night more snow is forecast with winds shifting to the SW

Snowpack Summary

30cm of storm snow buried a variety of surfaces on Monday; surface hoar up to 10mm is rounding in some areas, localized freezing rain formed a crust in others while sunny breaks formed a crust on steeper solar aspects. Below that several surface hoar crust layers exist in the upper snowpack and the Nov 5 crust is down between 1m and 1.5m

Avalanche Summary

Tuesday's storm brought a widespread avalanche cycle to all aspects and elevations. Avalanche control Tuesday gave results to size 3.5. Numerous loose dry avalanches released yesterday when the sun came out to sz 1.5 as well as 2 sz 2s in the highway corridor from N and S aspects

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slabs

The Dec 7 persistent weak layer of surface hoar and crusts is down between 20 and 35cm. This is still reactive in tests and 2 natural size 2 avalanches were observed yesterday

  • Caution on open slopes and convex rolls at treeline and below, buried surface hoar may be preserved.
  • Persistent slabs may be more sensitive to human triggering on solar asp where it sits on sun crust

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

The Nov 5 crust layer is down over 1m, it is still of concern in shallow snowpack areas

  • Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely

Expected Size: 1.5 - 3