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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 12th, 2024–Dec 13th, 2024
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
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
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
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Glacier.

Avalanche hazard with rise this weekend with a storm forecast to bring snow and strong winds.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Natural avalanche activity has tapered off with a few size 1-2.5 avalanches observed in the highway corridor in steep/extreme terrain since Sunday.

Artillery control produced excellent results on Tupper and Macdonald Sat night, with most shots producing sz 2 to sz 3 avalanches from steep start zones, running out onto valley bottom fans. Debris moved fast, likely picking up speed and mass on the buried surface hoar.

Snowpack Summary

50-70cm of storm snow sits on a sun crust on steep solar aspects. In sheltered locations, this new snow sits atop surface hoar. Strong SW winds at the end of the storm created surface slab conditions on exposed Treeline and Alpine slopes.

There is a dense, well-settled mid-pack without any significant weak layers.

The Nov 9 crust is down 1-1.5m. The base of the snowpack is comprised of several dense, melt-freeze rain crusts formed in October.

Weather Summary

A weekend storm will bring light to moderate snow Friday through Sunday.

Tonight: Cloudy. Alp Low -6. Light winds, Freezing level(FLZ): Valley bottom

Fri: Cloudy w/flurries. Trace precipitation. Light to Moderate S winds. FLZ: 1300 m

Sat : Flurries, 10-15 cm. Alpine high -5 °C. Moderate gusting to Strong SW winds. FLZ: 1400 m

Sun: Mix of sun and clouds w/flurries. Trace precip. Alp high -9. Light SW winds. FLZ: 900 m

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slabs

65cm of snow and strong SW winds formed a slab that sits on a surface hoar layer in sheltered zones, and overlies a sun crust on steep, solar aspects. Rider triggered avalanches are possible where the surface hoar is reactive.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 3

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs have formed in exposed terrain at treeline and in the alpine in recent storm snow. Use caution in this terrain if surface snow feels stiffer and is cracking around skis.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2