Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 19th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
mbender,
Avalanche Canada
Continued light snowfall and wind will promote wind slab formation at upper elevations. Treat open terrain at treeline and below with caution due to the presence of a persistent slab.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
There are no new avalanches to report in the past few days.
Snowpack Summary
Recent new snow has been redistributed by predominantly southwest winds.
A buried layer of weak, feathery surface hoar crystals buried mid-December can be found down 25 to 50 cm from the surface. An additional layer of buried surface hoar may exist deeper in the snowpack, roughly 55 to 95 cm below the surface.
The remaining mid and lower snowpack contains several crusts from early in the season that are generally well-bonded to the surrounding snowpack.
Snow depth decreases significantly at lower elevations.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
Cloudy with a trace of snow, ridgetop wind southwest 15 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -3 °C.
Wednesday
Cloudy with 2-7 cm of snow, ridgetop wind southwest 30-50 km/h, treeline temperature -2 °C.
ThursdayCloudy with 10 to 20 cm of snow, ridgetop wind south 30-60 km/h, treeline temperature -2 °C.
FridayCloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow, ridgetop wind south 20-50 km/h, treeline temperature -4 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Approach steep open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, buried surface hoar may exist.
- Surface hoar distribution is highly variable. Avoid generalizing your observations.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind direction has switched over the past few days so expect to find wind slabs on a variety of aspects.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Two layers of surface hoar may be found 30 and 90 cm below the snow surface. There is uncertainty on reactivity of these layers. Best to presume the layers are present and approach open, inter-connected terrain cautiously.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 20th, 2023 4:00PM
