Avalanche forecast

Glacier

Dec 14 – 15, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Windy storm ahead this weekend!

Expect new wind slabs to form and be sensitive to rider triggering.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    Expect new wind slabs to form with the incoming storm. Forecast strong, gusty SW winds may form wind slabs lower into the slope than you might expect.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–3

    65cm of snow overlays a layer of surface hoar in sheltered zones, and a sun crust on steep, solar aspects. Rider triggered avalanches are still possible and may be difficult to predict.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Natural avalanche activity has mostly tapered off since last weekend's storm. A few size 1 loose moist avalanches observed yesterday from steep solar aspects.

Artillery control produced excellent results on Tupper and Macdonald the night of the 7th, with most shots producing sz 2 to sz 3 avalanches from steep start zones, running out onto valley bottom fans. Debris moved fast, likely picking up speed and mass on the buried surface hoar.

Snowpack Summary

50-70cm of storm snow sits on a sun crust on steep solar aspects. In sheltered locations, this new snow sits atop surface hoar. Strong SW winds at the end of the storm created surface slab conditions on exposed Treeline and Alpine slopes.

There is a dense, well-settled mid-pack without any significant weak layers.

The Nov 9 crust is down 1-1.5m. The base of the snowpack is comprised of several dense, melt-freeze rain crusts formed in October.

Weather Summary

A windy weekend storm will bring light to moderate snow through to Monday.

Tonight: Flurries, trace of snow. Alpine Low -6. Moderate South wind, Freezing level(FLZ): 1000m

Sat: Flurries, 10cm. Alpine high -5 °C. Moderate gusting to Strong SW winds. FLZ: 1400m

Sun: Mix of sun and clouds w/flurries, 6cm. Alpine high -7. Moderate to strong SW winds. FLZ: 1100 m

Mon: Flurries, 7cm. Alpine high -10. Light SW wind. FZL 900m

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
  • Carefully manage your exposure to overhead hazards.

Regions covered