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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 16th, 2024–Dec 17th, 2024
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
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
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
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

Regions: Glacier.

A dusting of fresh snow on Monday may make it difficult to visually identify recently formed wind slabs.

Investigate wind slab development on representative slopes before committing to large terrain features.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Natural avalanche activity tapered off on Monday.

Several Size 1-2.5 natural wind slab avalanches were observed over the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

~20cm of recent storm snow combined with moderate to strong Southwest wind has created wind slabs.

A persistent weak layer remains down 50-70cmcm. This interface consists of surface hoar in sheltered locations, a sun crust on solar aspects, and continues to produce moderate-hard sudden results in test profiles.

The base of the snowpack is comprised of several dense, melt-freeze rain crusts formed in October/early November.

Weather Summary

A strong frontal system arrives Tues evening bringing heavy snow and strong wind.

Tonight Trace snow. Light wind

Tues Flurries. Accumulation 7 cm. Alpine high -6 °C. Ridge S 15 km/h. Freezing level (FZL) 1100m.

Wed Snow, heavy at times. 25-30 cm. Alpine high -3. Ridge wind SW25 gusting 70. FZL 1500m.

Thurs Cloudy with sunny periods & isolated flurries. Trace precipitation. Ridge wind SW 15 gusting 40. FZL1100m

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Recent snowfall was redistributed by strong S-SW winds on the weekend building widespread wind slab in the Alpine. At tree line elevation, wind slab can be found in leeward terrain as well. If triggered, wind slabs may step down to a persistent weak layer buried 60-80cm deep.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

60-80cm of snow overlays a layer of surface hoar in sheltered zones, and a sun crust on steep, solar aspects. Activity on this layer had slowed in recent days, but the new load from this current storm could re-awaken this problem.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 3