Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 17th, 2019 12:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

Avalanche Canada Mikey, Avalanche Canada

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 Wind slabs in the alpine with the strong westerly winds.  

Summary

Confidence

High - We have a good understanding of the snowpack structure and confidence in the weather forecast

Weather Forecast

Wednesday is another windy day with strong westerly winds, temperatures between -4c and -6c in the alpine, along with light flurries. There is a hint of snow coming for Friday. Stay tuned!!!

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed today.

Snowpack Summary

There is not a whole lot of snow in the valley bottoms and it is mostly faceted out and not very supportive, thus making travel a wee bit challenging. At 2200m, there is about 80-100cm of snow at the most, of which the bottom 60cm is comprised of facets. This facet interface is something that one should keep an eye out for when we get more loading on it. Somewhere around 2350m, the snowpack increases a bit and has a more supportive midpack. This midpack was mostly formed by the numerous winds slabs that have bonded over the last few weeks. The wind is continuing to blow strong from the West, thus stripping the windward slopes once again and laying down another wind slab in most of the alpine. Let's hope that the snow forecast for Friday will come.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

This relates to the developing wind slab , mostly in the alpine

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

This is in relation to the weak facets in the bottom of the snow pack, whether it be the October or November crusts that are faceting out or just plain old facets.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Dec 18th, 2019 4:00PM