Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 8th, 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
Early season conditions persist with a shallow snowpack.
Be cautious around ridgelines, wind slabs may still react to human triggers.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No avalanches have been reported in the last 2 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 will continue to redistribute what snow is available into deposits on north and east facing slopes. Wind loading may be found near ridgelines or at mid slope rollovers.
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
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy, trace amounts of snowfall possible. Westerly winds increase to 50 km/h. Treeline temperatures around -7 °C.
Saturday
Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. Southwest winds, 70 km/h. Treeline temperatures around -6 °C.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy with 5-10 cm of snow. Strong westerly winds ease over the day, to 40 km/h. Freezing levels rise to 1200 m by afternoon. Treeline temperatures around -2 °C.
Monday
Sunny breaks in the afternoon. No snow is expected. Freezing levels return to valley bottom, with treeline temperatures around -7 °C. Westerly winds increase again, above 50 km/h.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
- Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
Problems
Wind Slabs
New and old wind slabs are expected to be found on east and north facing slopes. Greatest reactivity will be found where slabs sit over surface hoar.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 9th, 2023 4:00PM
