Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 27th, 2023 4:00PM

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

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Avalanches are possible on slopes with wet or wind-affected snow.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been reported. Recent snow, rain, and wind may have caused isolated wind slab and wet loose avalanches in steep terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Freezing levels should favour snow accumulation at treeline and above on Thursday, with anywhere from 10 to 40 cm possible. This snow should bond well to the warm and moist snow beneath. Total snow depths at ski hills and remote stations are 60 to 80 cm, with closer to 100 cm possible at treeline. Many areas are below the threshold depth for avalanches.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with 10 to 30 cm of snow above 1300 m (rain below), alpine wind south 60 to 90 km/h, treeline temperature near 0 °C, with freezing level dropping to 1500 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of snow above 1300 m (rain below), alpine wind southeast 30 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature around +2 °C, freezing level climbing to 1700 m in the afternoon.

Friday

Cloudy with sunny breaks and no precipitation, alpine wind southeast 40 to 60 km/h, treeline temperature around +5 °C with freezing level climbing to 2500 m.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with 2 to 8 cm of snow above 1500 m, alpine wind south 40 km/h, treeline temperature around +2 °C .

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
  • Be alert to conditions that change throughout the day.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

New snow and wind could form reactive slabs on lee terrain features.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

Rain could destabilize surface snow at treeline elevations and produce small wet loose avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Dec 28th, 2023 4:00PM