Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 13th, 2019–Dec 14th, 2019

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Glacier.

Watch for loose dry slides in steeper terrain. Great day to avoid skiing under other groups.

Weather Forecast

Today expect a trace of precipitation, light to low end of moderate ridge top west wind and valley bottom freezing level. Cooling trend is coming over the weekend with light winds and alpine high temps forecast at -13C.

Snowpack Summary

10cm snow now buries the Dec 11 surface hoar layer. S-SW winds have recently formed windslab on ALP lee slopes. Earlier cold temps and clear skies faceted the past snow surface. The Dec 5th surface hoar is down +/-40cm and is stubborn in tests. The Nov 23rd surface hoar/crust/facet combo is down +/-100cm and is becoming more stubborn in tests.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed in the last 24hrs.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slabs

The November 23rd layer consists of surface hoar at and below treeline and a crust on steep solar aspects into the alpine. This layer can be found down +/-100cm.

If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5

Wind Slabs

Recent S-SW winds have formed windslab in the immediate lee of alpine terrain features. The last 24hrs storm snow will have obscured these slabs.

Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Loose Dry

The widespread Dec 11 surface hoar is now buried down 10cm+. Surface snow will be prone to sluffing fast and far on this layer. This may be an issue in gully or terrain trap features.

Use caution above cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.
Avoid terrain traps, such as gullies, where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2