Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 9th, 2021 4:11PM
The alpine rating is Loose Dry, Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includejonas hoke,
Skier triggering of slab and loose dry avalanches is possible. A cautious approach to large features and steep terrain is recommended.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Lingering flurries under a weak NW flow Friday will give way to a more organized system from the West into the weekend.
Friday: Flurries (up to 7 cm). Alpine High -11*C. Moderate SW ridgetop winds.
Saturday: Snow (up to 20cm). Low -13*C, High -8*C. Mod gusting Extreme SW wind.
Sunday: Flurries (up to 5cm). Low -15*C, High -11*C, Mod SW wind.
Snowpack Summary
Approximately 30 cm of new snow fell Wednesday with South winds, creating fresh slabs in exposed terrain features, and a loose dry avalanches problem in steep sheltered terrain. The Dec 1st rain crust is ~20cm thick, buried 40cm at 1300m/60cm at TL, and can be found up to 2300m. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well bonded and strong.
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday, a field team triggered two small slab avalanches on the Dec. 1st crust, these both occurred on steep slopes at treeline.
On Wednesday several large avalanches were observed above the highway. The majority of these were in very steep terrain off of Mt Macdonald and Tupper.
Confidence
Problems
Loose Dry
Expect sluffing/loose dry avalanches in steep unsupported terrain features.
- Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where small slab avalanches may have severe consequences.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
With lots of snow available for transport windslabs will continue to grow with any wind inputs.
- Use caution in alpine and open treeline lees. Recent snowfall has created slabs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
There is now 50-90cm on the Dec. 1st crust, which is just beginning to gain enough cohesion to fail as a slab.
- Carefully evaluate terrain features by digging and testing on adjacent, safe slopes.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 10th, 2021 4:00PM