Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 20th, 2022–Dec 21st, 2022

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable

Regions: North Shore, Sasquatch, Sky Pilot, South Coast.

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.

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.

Avalanche 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: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2