Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 5th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Loose Dry.
DH,
Avalanche Canada
A large natural avalanche cycle is occurring, avoid all avalanche terrain until the storm has passed and the new snow has had time to bond.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
A widespread natural avalanche cycle began on Monday and is still ongoing at the time of writing this. Large avalanches up to size 3.5 are showing very wide propagations across terrain features and running far into the runout zones.
Artillery avalanche control is scheduled for Tuesday evening through the hwy corridor.
Snowpack Summary
In the last few days, 45-60cm of new snow has fallen on surface hoar or a thin crust on steep solar aspects. This layer is reactive in snowpack tests and easily triggered by skiers/riders. An additional 25cm are forecast for the next 24hr period.
There is ~130cm of snow at tree line, below average for this time of year. Many early-season hazards still exist at or just below the snow surface.
The base of the snowpack consists of weak, sugary facets in most areas.
Weather Summary
Snowfall with moderate winds will continue overnight into Wednesday as the remnants of the storm move through.
Tonight: Cloudy, 11cm, low -2 °C, winds SW light gusting strong, freezing level 1800m.
Wed: Cloudy 14 cm, high -1 °C, winds W light gusting moderate, freezing level 1800m.
Thurs: Clouds and sun, isolated flurries, trace, low -11 °C, high -7 °C, winds W light, freezing level 1000m.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be aware of the potential for larger than expected storm slabs due to the presence of buried surface hoar.
- Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.
- Be carefull with sluffing in steep terrain, especially above cliffs and terrain traps.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Surface hoar (10-20mm) has now been buried by ~60cm of heavy new snow. Expect this layer to be reactive as additional snow or rain falls and settles it into a cohesive storm slab. This layer will be deeper in wind loaded areas.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
Watch out for sluffing in steep terrain especially above cliffs and around terrain traps. Small avalanches could be enough to trigger the storm slab problem, resulting in a large avalanche.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 6th, 2023 4:00PM
