Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 20th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
Parks Canada,
Avalanche Canada
The most recent storm snow still needs time to settle. Be especially cautious moving into steep wind effected terrain in the alpine.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Several natural avalanches were observed in the highway corridor due to a wind spike overnight into Friday. Naturals ran up to size 3 with some running running full feature.
Avalanche control at Rogers Pass on Wednesday produced storm slab avalanches to size 3.
Snowpack Summary
15cm of new snow has fallen with strong gusting Southerly winds. This lands on a series of storm layers from the last week. A persistent weak layer is down 60-90cm. This interface consists of surface hoar in sheltered locations, a sun crust on solar aspects, and continues to produce moderate-hard sudden results in test profiles. The snowpack's base is comprised of several early-season melt-freeze rain crusts.
Weather Summary
Remnants of Saturdays coastal system will push into southern interior bringing a pattern of light snow & flurries overnight into the work week.
Tonight: Trace, Alp low -3°C, Mod-Strong SW wind, Freezing level (FZL) 1700m
Sat: 6cm. Alp High 1°C, Strong SW winds, FZL 1900m
Sun: Trace precip, Alp High -4°C, Moderate SW wind, FZL 1400m.
Mon: 4cm, Alp High -4°C, Moderate SW wind, FZL 1400m
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Recent new snow, accompanied by strong SW winds has created a slab that will need time to settle.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
60-80cm of snow overlays a layer of surface hoar in sheltered zones, and a sun crust on steep, solar aspects. There has been limited activity on this layer in recent days, but the new load from the incoming storm could re-awaken this problem.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 21st, 2024 4:00PM
