Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 20th, 2021 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs, Persistent Slabs and Loose Dry.
Lynnea Baker,
Though ski quality is currently excellent, avalanche hazard will increase with incoming weather system. Other hazards still include sharks below 1800m.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Tuesday: Clearing. Moderate south west winds. Alpine temps high -10. Freezing levels valley bottom
Wednesday: Cloudy with flurries. Accumulation 10 cm. Strong south west winds. Alpine temps high -5. FL 1500m.
Thursday: Cloudy with flurries. Accumulation 10-20 cm. Strong gusting to extreme west winds. Alpine temps high -7. FL valley bottom.
Snowpack Summary
20-30 cm unconsolidated snow is currently faceting with cold temps. This overlies previous widespread windslabs 20-40 cm thick in alpine and treeline. Dec 4 crust, found down 40-80 cm has faceting snow above. A 20-60 cm thick Nov MFcr complex completes the snowpack to ground. HS at TL is 110 - 170. BTL has just reached threshold at Cameron Lake.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches reported or observed during field day. If you go out into the mountains please share your observations on the Mountain Information Network.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Problems
Wind Slabs
Previously buried windslabs 20-50 cm thick sit under 20 cm unconsolidated snow. Use caution in thick to thin areas. When winds increase be cautious of newly formed surface windslab in lees.
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Use caution in thin snowpack areas.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
No avalanches observed on this layer this week, however with a large enough trigger this layer could produce results.
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
30-20 cm unconsolidated snow is faceting with cold temp. Watch for sluffing in steep terrain.
- Be careful of loose dry sluffing in steep, confined or exposed terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 23rd, 2021 4:00PM
