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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 21st, 2021–Dec 22nd, 2021

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Northwest Coastal.

Use extra caution in wind effected terrain. Wind slab will be sensitive to rider traffic. If more than 25cm of new snow is observed consider the hazard in the alpine and treeline to be considerable.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Tuesday night: Up too 10cm with strong Northwest winds. Low of -13 at 900m.

Wednesday: some flurries ending around noon. Moderate North winds And a high of -12 at 900m.

Thursday: no new snow expected. Light to moderate North wind and a high of -14 at 900m.

Friday: sunny with no new snow expected. Moderate North winds with a high of -16 at 900m.

Avalanche Summary

Several natural wind slabs up to size 2.5 were reported to have released from ridgetops. 

Old wind slabs on cross loaded features from outflow winds were also reported over the last 48 hours.

Snowpack Summary

New wind slab will build on all aspects as a result of precipitation and strong variable winds on Tuesday. This will overlie old wind effected surfaces in the treeline and alpine.

The December 18th surface hoar/facet layer is down 15cm, the surface hoar was observed up to 12mm in both the treeline and below treeline. It is likely only a problem in sisolated locations in the treeline where wind slab has formed above it.

The December 7 persistent weak layer is now typically down 50-70 cm, though some professional operations are saying that it is getting harder to find. This interface may include a crust, facets, or surface hoar.

Snowpack depths vary greatly across the region, expect to find anywhere from 100-300 cm of snow around treeline.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.