Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 4th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
rgoddard,
Avalanche Canada
Watch out for areas where the wind has deposited large amounts of snow.
Early-season obstacles still pose a threat below the surface of the snow.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported in our region.
Please continue to submit MIN reports and support your backcountry community.
Snowpack Summary
By the end of the day on Tuesday 10 cm will rest on up to 30 cm of snow that fell this past weekend. The upper snowpack is generally faceted upper snowpack. Forty cm down expect to find a surface hoar in sheltered terrain at treeline. On north and east-facing slopes in the alpine wind slab formation is expected.
The mid-pack is generally unconsolidated. A crust with sugary facets beneath it can be found just above the ground.
The snowpack is still shallow for this time of year. The average snowpack depth at treeline range from 55 to 80 cm.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Cloudy, 5 cm accumulation of wet snow with up to 10 cm in the west, alpine winds southwest 55 to 70 km/h, freezing level ranging from treeline to the alpine.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud, up to 5 cm accumulation in some areas, alpine winds southwest 45 to 55 km/h, freezing level at treeline.
Wednesday
Mix of sun and cloud, up to 2 cm accumulation, alpine winds southwest 45 to 55 km/h, treeline temperatures back down to -5 °C.
Thursday
Clear, no accumulation, alpine winds southerly 10 to 20 km/h, treeline temperatures around -7 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
- Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
- 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
Snow and wind may have created new reactive wind slabs in exposed areas at higher elevations. Areas that have not experienced wind may have accumulated enough snow to create soft slabs on top of a surface hoar layer.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 5th, 2023 4:00PM
