Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 13th, 2023 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Storm Slabs.

Avalanche Canada lbaker, Avalanche Canada

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Watch for conditions changing throughout the day. Storm slabs will become more reactive to human-triggering as snow accumulates.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been reported in the region.

If you do head into the backcountry please consider submitting observations and/or photos on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

+15 cm of wind affected storm snow covers a thick melt-freeze crust at all elevations. The mid and lower snowpack is made up of a series of crusts and rounded grains. The snowpack is generally well consolidated.

Overall, the snow depth remains relatively shallow, creating challenging travel conditions and numerous hazards at or just below the snow surface across all elevations.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with flurries, 15 to 25 mm accumulation, southwest ridgetop wind 30 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -2 °C, freezing level 800 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with scattered flurries, 10 to 15 mm accumulation, northwest ridgetop wind 20 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -2 °C, freezing level 1000 m.

Friday

Mix of sun and cloud with no precipitation, southwest ridgetop wind 30 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature +1 °C.

Saturday

Mainly sunny with no precipitation, southwest ridgetop wind 40 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature +5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
  • Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

Use caution in windloaded terrain where pockets of storm snow are deeper, cohesive and may be reactive to human-triggering.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 14th, 2023 4:00PM