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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 25th, 2020–Dec 26th, 2020

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Glacier.

http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/links/goto_e.asp?destination=

Persistent weak layers linger in the snowpack. Avalanches triggered on these layers may be large and of high consequence.

There is a Special Avalanche Warning in effect. Click Here to access.

Merry Christmas!

Weather Forecast

A mix of sun and cloud with no precipitation.

Alpine High -4 °C with light southerly winds.

Freezing level: 1300 metres.

Tonight through tomorrow flurries should bring us 10cm of storm snow with freezing level around 1000m.

Snowpack Summary

The recent storm dropped 120cm snow accompanied by warm temps and strong S-SW winds. Slab formation is widespread. Weak layers; Dec 13 surface hoar/facets are down 70-110cm, Dec 7 crust/surface hoar layer is down 110-130cm+. The Nov 5 crust lingers near the base of the snowpack and several avalanches over the storm period stepped down to it.

Avalanche Summary

Bagheera SE face size 3.5 overnight Wednesday. Two size 2-2.5 slabs SE slopes just west of Christmas Couloir, Ursus Major early Thursday. One skier accidental size 2 slab avalanche SE Couloir on Mt Afton mid day Thursday. Avalanche control by MOT produced two size 4 avalanches just west of the Glacier Park boundary on Wednesday.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.