Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 20th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
jleblanc,
Avalanche Canada
With surface warming, surface snow may become more reactive. Uncertainty remains about the amount of dry snow residing at upper elevations throughout the region.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Explosives controls produced numerous storm slabs up to size 1.5 around Fernie. Several loose dry avalanches were observed on steep alpine terrain Wednesday. If you go out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
Snowpack Summary
Variable surfaces exist at treeline and above; up to 10 cm of fresh snow, wind-affected surface, and melt-freeze crust. Surface snow is moist from 2000 m and below. A prominent rain crust is 30 to 60 cm deep. The greatest amounts of recent snow are likely around Fernie, but any leeward terrain could have deeper deposits due to the recent southwest wind.
The lower snowpack was rain-soaked and remains moist in some areas. Typical snowpack depths at treeline are 75 to 130 cm, and taper rapidly below treeline.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Cloudy with isolated flurries, trace accumulation, alpine wind southwest 30 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature 0° C, freezing level at 1700 m. A refreezing layer should develop at surface overnight.
Thursday
Cloudy with isolated flurries, trace accumulation, alpine wind west 30 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -1° C, freezing level at 1800 m. A refreezing layer should develop at surface overnight.
Friday
Cloudy with isolated flurries, 5 cm of wet snow in afternoon/ evening, alpine wind southwest 40 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -1° C, freezing level at 1800 m.
Saturday
Cloudy with 5 cm of snow, alpine wind northwest 30 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -2° C, freezing level 1000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
- Watch for unstable snow on specific terrain features, especially when the snow is moist or wet.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.
Problems
Wind Slabs
10-20 cm of freshly deposited snow may have accumulated in lee features at higher elevations only. Be cautious transitioning into wind-affected terrain, where these slabs may be sitting on a crust.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 21st, 2023 4:00PM
