Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 15th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
TT,
Avalanche Canada
A lot of wind heading our way on Saturday. Skiers should be avoiding recently wind loaded slopes despite their tempting snow coverage, as wind slabs are most reactive during and shortly after significant wind events. Ice climbers, beware of spin drifts associated with strong wind.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Weather Summary
The Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada https://www.avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
Saturday
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Precipitation: Trace. Alpine temperature: High -5 °C. Ridge wind west: 15 km/h gusting to 45 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid areas where the snow feels stiff and/or slabby.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Strong to extreme southwesterly winds are creating fresh wind slabs on top of old slabs created by the wind event on Wednesday. Winds slabs tend to be most reactive during and just after significant wind events, extra caution is advised on northerly features in the alpine and into the tree line.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
The snow pack is very weak at the bottom. Natural activity has not been observed yet. Keep this on your radar as triggering remains possible with the shallow nature of the overall snowpack. This problem is of most concern in wind loaded alpine and tree line features, specifically below ridge tops.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 16th, 2023 4:00PM
