Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 20th, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
isnowsell,
Avalanche Canada
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
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
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 21st, 2022 4:00PM
