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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 8th, 2021–Dec 9th, 2021

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

Regions

Kootenay Boundary.

The snowpack is mostly thin and crusty, but there is potential for triggering avalanches on wind-loaded slopes near ridgetops.

Confidence

High - The snowpack structure is mostly striaghtforward and not unusually variable.

Weather Forecast

Unsettled weather until the next storm arrives on Saturday.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with scattered flurries brining a trace of snow, moderate wind from the west with gusts to 50 km/h, treeline temperatures drop to -10 C.

THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy with scattered flurries bringing up to 5 cm of low density snow, light wind from the west with some moderate gusts, treeline temperatures around -8 C.

FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, no significant precipitation, moderate wind from the west, treeline temperatures around -8 C.

SATURDAY: Periods of snow with 10-25 cm by the afternoon, strong wind from the southwest, freezing level climbs to 1500 m with treeline temperatures reaching -2 C.

Avalanche Summary

Recent avalanche activity has been limited to small sluffs (aka loose snow avalanches) running above the shallowly buried crust. There's potential for wind slabs near ridgetops, otherwise not much avalanche activity is expected until the next storm arrives on Saturday.

Snowpack Summary

About 15 cm of recent snow is settling above the widespread crust that formed during last week's atmospheric river. In many areas this snow has been capped by a thin breakable crust. We suggest monitoring the bond of the snow to these upper crusts as there is potential for weak layers to develop around them. Snow depths are roughly 60-120 cm at treeline and the majority of the snowpack consists of thick crust layers.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.

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.