Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 27th, 2019 8:00AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs.
mike smallwood,
Parks Canada
Triggering of large avalanches is still possible. Select your routes carefully.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Flurries of snow today and tonight with light W ridge top winds, freezing level below valley bottom and an alpine high of -11. Saturday and Sunday are looking similar with the freezing level rising to 1100m by Sunday.
Snowpack Summary
5-10cm HN24 fell on top of yesterdays SH and the 80 to 120cm that is now over the Dec 11th SH (5-12mm). Slabs have formed in the lees of ridge crests and a thin crust on steep solar aspects is now under the new snow. Early season crusts still persist in the lower snowpack.
Avalanche Summary
Natural activity was observed yesterday out of both N and S facing terrain to size 2.5. Several natural avalanches were observed from the steep, N-facing gullies on MacDonald the day before, all running to the top of their respective fans. No new avalanches reported from the backcountry.
Confidence
Problems
Persistent Slabs
We are entering a period of lower probability of triggering a slab, but a high consequence if you do. A 100cm slab sits on well-preserved, large surface hoar. This is a recipe for HUMAN-TRIGGERED avalanches.
- Use conservative route selection, stick to supported terrain features, avoid overhead hazards.
- Be wary of slopes that did not previously avalanche.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 28th, 2019 8:00AM
