Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 24th, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs, Loose Wet and Deep Persistent Slabs.
dsaly,
Avalanche Canada
Strong wind, rising freezing levels and ongoing precipitation will keep avalanche hazard elevated.
Summary
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
No notable recent avalanches have been reported, however poor weather and road closures have limited observations.
Please continue to post your observations and photos to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
In the last 48 hours, around 15 cm fresh snow fell with steady south-southwest wind. The new snow overlies a facetted and unconsolidated layer which formed during the recent cold weather.
The winter snowpack is not as deep as usual, and along with a cold and dry early winter, the lower snowpack consists of weak, unconsolidated facets and depth hoar crystals. Snowpack depths average 50-200 cm at treeline.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Flurries, 5 cm. Ridgetop low temperature -9 C. Southwest wind 25-35 km/hr.
Sunday
Flurries begin around noon, 5-10 cm by end of day. Ridgetop high temperatures -2 C. Southwest wind 20-40 km/hr. Freezing level rising towards 1500 m.
MondayWet flurries and snow, 10 cm overnight plus 10 cm through the day. Ridgetop high temperature 0 C. Southwest wind 20-40 km/hr. Freezing level peaking above 1800 m.
TuesdayFlurries and snow, 10 cm. Ridgetophigh temperature -1 C. Southwest wind 30-60 km/hr. Freezing level 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Steady south-southwest wind has and continues to impact flurries and loose snow.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Watch for rising freezing levels and rain-on-snow and turning surface snow moist and saturating the snowpack. In the case of wet avalanches, the first 24 hours of rain-on-snow are the most hazardous as large, destructive avalanches are most likely to occur.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
The winter snowpack is not as deep as usual, and along with a cold and dry early winter, the lower snowpack consists of weak, unconsolidated facets and depth hoar crystals. With weak basal layers, a cautious approach to large open terrain features is required especially around rocky or thin areas.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 25th, 2022 4:00PM
