Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 23rd, 2019 4:00PM
The alpine rating is
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating isA Special Public Avalanche Warning is in effect. Avoid avalanche terrain until the hazard level improves.
Summary
Confidence
Weather Forecast
Tuesday will be mainly cloudy with very light flurries and light to moderate SW winds. Temperatures should be in the -8 range before beginning to cool on Christmas Day with a few sunny breaks.
Avalanche Summary
The large scale and destructive avalanche cycle is on-going with some slides reaching the end of their historic run-outs. Slides up to size 3.5 have been observed in the past few days. Ski cutting at lower elevations today produced full-depth avalanches with the entire recent storm snow layer failing on the basal weaknesses.
Snowpack Summary
Another 5 to 8cm of snow fell last night and light snowfall continued through the day. Recent storm snow totals at Treeline are near 100cm. Unfortunately, all this snow sits over a very weak basal layering of facets and crusts. In the Alpine and open areas at Treeline persistent SW winds continue to build wind slabs in lee and cross-loaded terrain. All of this recent snow overlying the weak base has led to a large scale natural avalanche cycle that is still on-going. Natural avalanches are running far and fast and in some cases are reaching the end of their historic run-outs. Ski cutting in steeper terrain below treeline produces full depth avalanches, and very little terrain over 25 degrees is not at risk of being triggered.
Terrain and Travel
- Use conservative route selection. Choose simple, low-angle, well-supported terrain with no overhead hazard.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- The trees are not a safe haven, travel at treeline requires expert knowledge and diligence.
- Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain.
Valid until: Dec 24th, 2019 4:00PM