Avalanche forecast

South Columbia

Dec 27 – 28, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

New snow and wind have made windslabs in open terrain at treeline and in the alpine.

This new snow will test the buried weak layers

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    Watch for windslabs that are covered by a thin layer of new snow.Slabs may step down to buried weak layers.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3

    Recent avalanches have included remote triggers and cornice fall.Avoid large open slopes at treeline, where surface hoar is more likely to be preserved.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Recent snow and wind have continued avalanche activity in this region with numerous natural and human triggered avalanches, at both treeline and in the alpine. In places these have been large (up to size 2.5).

Avalanches on the early December layer continue on north, east and west facing slopes around 2200 m. This includes large remotely triggered slabs, human triggered as well as cornice-falls triggering slabs on the slope below.

See the photos below for examples.

Snowpack Summary

Recent snow continues to accumulate and is between 20 to 60 cm in depth. This new snow sits on a melt freeze crust on previously sun affected slopes.

A concerning layer of facets, crusts, and in some places surface hoar is buried 60 to 110 cm deep. The distribution is variable throughout this region but it is most prevalent between 1700 to 2300 m.

Cornices are large and fragile from recent winds and mild temperatures.

Treeline snow depths range from 100 to 180 cm.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Mostly cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with flurries. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures -2 °C.

Sunday

Partly cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 10 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.
  • Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.

Regions covered