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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 20th, 2020–Dec 21st, 2020

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Alpine
Widespread avalanches certain.
Treeline
Widespread avalanches certain.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

Glacier.

Spicy avalanche conditions on all aspects and elevations!

Now is the time to avoid backcountry avalanche terrain and enjoy some laps at your local ski hill.

Weather Forecast

The weather system over southern BC will exit the province this morning, with the next system poised to arrive early tomorrow.

Today: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Freezing level 1200m. Moderate gusting extreme W wind.

Tonight: Snow (16 cm). Low -9 C. Moderate W wind.

Monday: Snow (14 cm). High -9 C. Light NE wind.

Snowpack Summary

26+ cm of new snow brings the 4 day storm total to over 1 meter! Strong S-SW winds and warm temps continue to build a sensitive slab at all elevations. The Dec 13 surface hoar/facets are down 90cm+ and the Dec 7 crust/surface hoar layer is down 100cm+. The Nov 5 crust lingers near the base of the snowpack but has been unreactive recently.

Avalanche Summary

A widespread natural avalanche cycle began overnight and continues this morning.

A widespread cycle of natural and artillery controlled avalanches up to size 3.5 occurred in the highway corridor (and likely in the backcountry) yesterday.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.