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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 9th, 2021–Dec 10th, 2021
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
4: High
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Kootenay Boundary.

The snowpack is mostly thin and crusty, but there is potential for triggering avalanches on wind-loaded slopes near ridgetops.

Confidence

Moderate - The snowpack structure is mostly striaghtforward and not unusually variable.

Weather Forecast

A frontal system will arrive on Friday night and bring strong wind and new snow.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy skies with some light flurries and up to 5 cm of snow, light wind from the west, treeline temperatures drop to -10 C.

FRIDAY: Increasing cloud with afternoon flurries bringing a trace amount of snow, moderate wind from the southwest with gusts to 50 km/h, treeline temperatures around -7 C.

SATURDAY: Snowing throughout the day with a total of 20-30 cm, strong wind from the southwest with gusts to 80 km/h, freezing level climbs to 1300 m with treeline temperatures reaching -2 C.

SUNDAY: Partly cloudy with scattered flurries and up to 5 cm of new snow, moderate wind from the southwest, treeline temperatures around -6 C.

Avalanche Summary

Recent avalanche activity has been limited to small sluffs running above the shallowly buried crust. There's potential for wind slabs near ridgetops, otherwise not much avalanche activity is expected until the arrival of Saturday's storm.

Snowpack Summary

15-25 cm of recent snow is settling above the widespread crust that formed during last week's atmospheric river. In many areas this snow has been capped by a thin breakable crust. We suggest monitoring the bond of the snow to these upper crusts as there is potential for weak layers to develop around them. Snow depths are roughly 60-120 cm at treeline and the majority of the snowpack consists of thick crust layers.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Watch for deeper pockets of unstable snow near ridgetops.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2