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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 18th, 2024–Dec 19th, 2024

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

Regions

Kootenay Boundary, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, South Okanagan, Ymir, Crawford, Moyie, St. Mary, Kokanee, Valhalla.

Allow time for the snowpack to stabilize after recent snow and wind loading.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Natural avalanches have likely been occurring on Wednesday, particularly in areas with more than 30 cm of new snow and on wind-loaded slopes.

At the time of publishing, we have not received any reports of avalanche activity.

Snowpack Summary

As much as 30 cm of new snow has fallen since Tuesday night. Deeper deposits of snow have likely formed in lee-facing terrain features at upper elevations from recent southwest winds.

Below the recent snow, the upper snowpack has a mix of crusts and surface hoar layers approximately 30 to 60 cm deep. However, assessing the distribution of current weak layers is difficult because in some areas a freezing rain crust destroyed or buried the surface hoar.

The lower snowpack is strong and bonded. Treeline snow depths range from 100 to 180 cm.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy. 40 to 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Thursday

Cloud increasing through the day. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C.

Saturday

Mostly sunny. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level 2300 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.

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.