Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 18th, 2019 3:00PM
The alpine rating is Storm Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeIt's finally happening. Continued heavy snowfall is in the forecast for Wednesday night. Very dangerous avalanche conditions are expected and travel in higher elevation avalanche terrain is not recommended.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain.
Weather Forecast
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Continuing heavy snow, bringing 30 cm or more new snow by morning. Strong south winds.
THURSDAY: Continuing flurries bringing 10-15 cm of new snow and 2-day snow totals to 50-60 cm. Precipitation increasing and transitioning to wet flurries or rain overnight. Moderate south winds becoming strong overnight. Alpine high temperatures around -2 with freezing level to 1200 metres, increasing to 1700 metres overnight.
FRIDAY: Cloudy with easing flurries bringing approximately 10 cm of new snow. Light to moderate southwest winds. Alpine high temperatures around -1 with freezing levels falling back to 1300 metres.
SATURDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow. Light variable winds. Alpine high temperatures around -3.
Avalanche Summary
We haven't yet received reports of avalanches from the latest snowfall, but expect our most recent accumulations to be sensitive to human triggering and capable of producing large avalanches on Thursday. Anticipate areas where the new snow has been loaded and stiffened by strong winds to be the most reactive.
Snowpack Summary
Heavy snowfall forecast to continue through Wednesday night will bring a substantial layer of new snow to the region for Thursday.Â
This time around, the new snow has buried an array of smooth surfaces provided by the 30-50 cm of snow we received last week at treeline and in the alpine. Recent observations show the new snow has buried a weak layer of surface hoar in the North Shore mountains.
Below the new snow, last week's storm snow mainly covers bare ground, smoothing over previous ground roughness. This smoothing effect has given us more widespread planar surfaces for avalanches as new snow accumulates and forms storm slabs.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Heavy snowfall over Wednesday and the overnight period has created a new storm slab problem. A weak layer of surface hoar recently observed on the North Shore mountains may make slabs especially touchy. This problem may now affect lower elevation areas where the new snow has buried smooth surfaces.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 19th, 2019 5:00PM