Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 10th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
wlewis,
Avalanche Canada
Strong winds may have moved snow to unusual terrain features, watch for wind effected snow on mid slope rollovers and gullies
Early season hazards lurk just below the snows surface.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No avalanches have been reported in the last 3 days. Reactivity is expected to linger in wind affected features.
Please continue to submit MIN reports and support your backcountry community.
Snowpack Summary
Strong winds have likely stripped available snow from south and west facing slopes, redistributing it onto north and east facing terrain features.
A layer of surface hoar can be found around 30-50 cm deep. This is most concerning in wind-loaded features.
A crust with sugary facets beneath it can be found just above the ground. The snowpack is still shallow for this time of year. Average snowpack depths at treeline range from 65 to 90 cm.
Weather Summary
Sunday Night
Cloudy with no snow expected. Westerly winds, 30-40 km/h. Freezing levels drop back to valley bottom.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud. No snow is expected. Treeline temperatures around -7 °C. Westerly winds, 20-40 km/h.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud. Strong southwest winds return, 70-90 km/h. No snowfall expected. Freezing levels rise to 1000 m, treeline temperatures around -3 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with southwest winds 80km/h. 5-10 cm of snow possible. Freezing levels begin around 2000 m, and drop over the day to 1000 m. Treeline temperatures around 0 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
- Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Small avalanches may step down to deeper weak layers like the buried surface hoar, or even the weak facets at the base of the snowpack in very shallow areas.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 11th, 2023 4:00PM
