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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 23rd, 2024–Dec 24th, 2024

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

Regions

Kootenay Boundary, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, Ymir, Kokanee, Valhalla, Whatshan.

Heightened avalanche conditions persist due to uncertainty over buried weak layers' distribution and reactivity, despite a generally stable snowpack otherwise.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A few skier and explosive-triggered surface slab avalanches were reported over the weekend. These avalanches were generally no deeper than 15 cm and up to size 1.5.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20 cm of new snow over the weekend continues to settle and bond to undelaying surfaces. Southwest winds have redistributed new snow into deeper deposits at higher elevations. At lower elevations, surface conditions range from crusty to moist, depending on the time of day and local temperatures.

Down 50 to 100 cm there are potential weak layers of facets, crusts, and in some places surface hoar. The distribution of these layers is highly variable throughout the region.

Treeline snow depths range from 100 to 180 cm.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 10 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Tuesday

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and cloud with 0 to 2 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Thursday

Cloudy with up to 20 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Approach steep and open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, as buried surface hoar may exist.
  • Surface hoar distribution is highly variable. Avoid generalizing your observations.
  • Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

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.