Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 24th, 2021–Dec 25th, 2021

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

Regions

Northwest Inland.

Continue to assess the wind slab hazard as you move through the terrain. Rider triggerable wind slab can still be found near ridge crests and on steep roll overs.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Friday night: light to moderate east winds in the alpine with a low of -33 at 1600m.

Saturday: moderate winds from the Northeast with no new snow expected. High of -28 at 1600m.

Sunday: sunny with no new snow expected. wind will be moderate from the northeast in the alpine. High of -29 at 1600m.

Monday: some light flurries in the morning with moderate northwest wind. High of -26 at 1600m.

Avalanche Summary

One size 2 skier accidental was reported on Wednesday. This avalanche was a wind slab on a north aspect in the alpine with a slab thickness of 40cm. 

Snowpack Summary

Wind slab could be found on all aspects as the winds have varied over the last few days. Cold temps and dry air will likely facet out the snow surface and reduce reactivity of wind slab over the next couple days. 

The December 15 surface hoar layer is 10 to 20cm below the surface in sheltered treeline and below . It is likely not a problem yet.

. 

Snowpack depth at treeline typically ranges from 120-220 cm, with higher values in the western part of the region and tapering to the east. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep 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.