Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 20th, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Deep Persistent Slabs and Loose Dry.
TJ,
Avalanche Canada
Continued extreme cold temperatures for the next few days - keep this in mind as any incident or equipment failure may lead to severe consequences.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
A few loose dry avalanches noted December 19 on the Icefields parkway up to size 1.5 - mostly on solar aspects.
Snowpack Summary
Continued cold weather is forming surface facets and generally weakening the snowpack. A persistent weak layer is down 25-35cm specific to tree line and below in sheltered areas. The bottom of the snowpack is weak consisting of basal facets with pockets of depth hoar. The snowpack height ranges from 40-100cm. Snowpack is unsupportive tree line and below.
Weather Summary
Wednesday
Sunny
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: High -29 °C.
Light ridge wind.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud.
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: Low -28 °C, High -24 °C.
Light ridge wind.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
Friday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.
Precipitation: Trace.
Alpine temperature: Low -23 °C, High -14 °C.
Ridge wind southwest: 10 km/h.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices at this time.
Problems
Deep Persistent Slabs
This problem includes our prominent facet surface hoar layer down 30-40cm. The lower snow pack is weak and faceted due to consistent cold temperatures. Any avalanches initiating in the mid or upper snowpack will likely step down to the "deep" layer on or near the ground.
Below tree line hazard is rated low but caution is advised in isolated steep open slopes where wind affected stiffer snow may be present on top of the weak layers described above.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
Watch out for "facetlanches" on steep rocky terrain as the cold weather rots the snowpack. The weak nature of our snowpack makes it possible for these avalanches to gouge deeper in the snowpack and gain mass.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 21st, 2022 4:00PM
