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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 5th, 2021–Dec 6th, 2021

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

Regions

South Coast.

New snow will slide easily on the slippery crust. Watch for reactivity in freshly formed deposits of soft wind slab in lee terrain features near ridge crest.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.

Weather Forecast

Sunday night: Flurries starting up to 5 cm. Light to moderate southwest wind. Treeline temperatures around -6.

Monday: New snow 5-15 cm. Light westerly wind. Treeline high temperatures around -5.

Tuesday: New snow around 5 cm. Westerly wind building to strong. Treeline high temperatures around 0.

Wednesday: Overnight snow 15-20 cm. Strong southwest wind. Treeline high temperatures around -3.

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanche activity.

Snowpack Summary

5-20 cm of new low density snow sits over a thick, supportive surface crusts at all elevations.

Treeline snow depths in advance of the storm were around 80-100 cm but rain has eroded some of this. Much of treeline and almost all below treeline elevations are still below threshold depths for avalanches.

Terrain and Travel

  • Storm snow and wind is forming touchy slabs. Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • Keep in mind the crust offers an excellent bed surface for avalanches.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.

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.