Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 28th, 2021 3:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
JMackenzie,
Avalanche Canada
The extreme cold continues. Even a minor issue can become a major emergency with these temperatures.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate -
Weather Forecast
Another cold night with temps near -33, which will "warm" to -23 on Wednesday under mostly sunny skies. A trace of new snow will fall Tuesday night. Winds will be light to moderate from the W and NW.
Avalanche Summary
Nothin new observed or reported today.
Snowpack Summary
The prolonged cold is faceting the surface snow as well as above and below the Dec crust layer down 70cm on average. While this crust layer has not been active recently, snowpack tests indicate it is a layer to watch. A serious skier-triggered avalanche in the West Kootenays on this layer reminds us to be constantly evaluating this layer (check out the MIN for more details). Both surface and buried wind slabs are present in lee and cross-loaded terrain in the Alpine and at Treeline, and these slabs remain the principal concern in our region.
Terrain and Travel
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs are being found in alpine terrain and in specific features at treeline such as gullies. They are beginning to settle but are still reactive in steeper terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 29th, 2021 3:00PM
