Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 20th, 2022 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada isnowsell, Avalanche Canada

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Assess for drifts and stiff wind slabs in exposed terrain. Cohesive slabs formed on the surface potentially sit on a weak layer of feathery surface hoar crystals over a crust.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported in the past few days.

If you head out into the mountains, please share your photos or observations on the Mountain Information Network. Your information helps us understand local conditions!

Snowpack Summary

Roughly 50 cm of low-density snow has fallen since Sunday. The new snow is generally light, loose, and unconsolidated. This has buried a weak layer of surface hoar over a melt-freeze crust.

The mid and lower snowpack generally consists of layers of well-bonded snow with various melt-freeze crusts. No significant avalanche concerns at the moment.

At treeline the snowpack depth generally is 100 to 170 cm.

Weather Summary

Tuesday night

Clearing, with a trace of snow. Temperatures around -15 C and moderate Northeast winds in the alpine.

Wednesday

Sunny with periods of cloud, and no precipitation. Temperatures -10 to -20 C and light to moderate Northeast winds.

Thursday

Sunny with periods of cloud, and no precipitation. Temperatures -15 to -25 C and light Northeast winds.

Friday

Cloudy with snow, up to 30 cm. Temperatures of 0 to -5 C, and moderate to strong Southwest winds. Freezing levels rise to around 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

The surface snow remains low density and unconsolidated. This makes it ideal for wind transport. Wind slabs are developing in wind exposed terrain, like ridges and ribs. Wind slabs may remain reactive longer then usual with cold temperatures and a weak layer of surface hoar just below the recent snow.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 21st, 2022 4:00PM