Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 25th, 2020 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs, Loose Dry and Deep Persistent Slabs.
Barb Sharp,
Merry Christmas!!
Enjoy the holidays, but be mindful that you may find wind slabs on all aspects in the alpine and open tree line.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Flurries overnight Friday into Saturday with continued light snowfall on Saturday, for a total forecasted snowfall of 5cm. Light winds and freezing levels remaining at valley bottom.
Snowpack Summary
A north wind event on Dec 22 loaded southerly lees; present strong SW winds are reloading northerly terrain with last weeks 40cm of storm snow. The new snow sits upon a facet layer with isolated surface hoar in sheltered areas TL and below. The midpack is generally supportive with a weaker base of facets and depth hoar. Avg depth is 65-160cm.
Avalanche Summary
No Na activity reported today, no avalanche patrol done.
Confidence
Wind effect is extremely variable
Problems
Wind Slabs
Previous NW and present SW winds in the alpine and open tree line continue to develop wind slabs. Caution as these freshly built wind slabs are reactive and waiting for a trigger.
- Be careful with reverse loaded pockets of wind slab at ridgeline.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
- Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain, particularly where the debris flows into terrain traps.
- Minimize exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of an avalanche could be serious.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
Be cautious of thick to thin snowpack areas being likely trigger locations. The wind slabs have the potential to step down to the weakness at the base of the snowpack.
- Use caution in thin snowpack areas.
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 26th, 2020 4:00PM
