Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 3rd, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Loose Wet and Storm Slabs.
Avalanche Canada,
Avalanche Canada
Above-zero temperatures will keep the soggy upper snowpack primed for human triggering even as natural avalanche activity tapers off. Stick to low angle terrain and avoid overhead hazard.
Summary
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been observed, but reports have been extremely limited. We suspect a large natural avalanche cycle to have run during the peak of the rain storm. Looking forward to Wednesday, wet avalanches will likely remain triggerable by riders.
If you head to the backcountry please consider submitting your observations to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
After Tuesday night, the upper snowpack has been soaked by rain at most elevations. On peaks above 2300 m, 40 to 70 cm of recent storm snow may have escaped the rain and instead been redistributed over firm surfaces by strong southwest winds.
We'll need to reassess whether two surface hoar layers in the mid snowpack have survived or been cleaned out by the rain.
Deeper in the snowpack, a rain crust from early November seems to be bonding well to surrounding snow.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
5 to 10 mm of rain below 2300 m. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level between 2300 and 2500 m.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy, scattered flurries with no significant accumulation. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +1 °C. Freezing level around 2200 m.
Thursday
Scattered flurries bringing up to 5 cm then clearing to a mix of sun and cloud. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level around 1700 m.
Friday
5 to 15 cm of snow. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level around 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.
- Use conservative route selection. Choose simple, low angle terrain with no overhead hazard.
- Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
- Keep in mind that the high density of wet avalanches can make them destructive.
Problems
Loose Wet
A rain-moistened upper snowpack will be primed for human-triggered loose wet avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Storm Slabs
Wet storm snow may be triggerable as slab avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 4th, 2024 4:00PM
