Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

Widespread natural avalanche activity was observed in the highway corridor on Wednesday. The largest avalanches(up to size 3) were from the steep south face of Mt Tupper.

Tuesday there was a skier triggered avalanche on Cheops on a steep west aspect. This was a windslab on top of a crust and ran for approximately 200m.

Bruins Ridge saw a sz 2 wind slab fail on a SW aspect, most likely on the underlying suncrust.

*All skier triggered avalanches failed on a suncrust.

Moderate northerly winds have redistributed the recent 10-20cms of storm snow. beneath this recent storm snow is a layer of harder wind affected snow sitting on a sun crust on solar aspects.

In sheltered areas below treeline this new snow is evenly distributed and sitting on facets.

Below 2100m there is a crust down 70-80cm (from Dec 5th/6th).

The Dec 1 surface hoar layer is down 90-120cm and is decomposing. However, it is still reactive in isolated snowpack tests.

After a brief stormy period we will be back to high pressure and cold clear weather.

Tonight: Clear with cloudy periods, Alp low -21°C, wind: east 20 km/hr.

Thurs: Mix of sun/cloud, nil snow, Alp high -10°C, wind: SE 20km/hr.

Friday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, trace amount of snow, Alp high -5°C, Wind: SW 25km/hr

Sat: Flurries (7 cm), Alp high -15°C, light E wind.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
• Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.