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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 27th, 2020–Dec 28th, 2020

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

Regions

Glacier.

Assess your line before committing.

We currently have a complex snowpack with persistent weak layers in the low probability/ high consequence bubble.

There is a Special Avalanche Warning in effect. Click Here to access.

Weather Forecast

A ridge of high pressure will begin to build over BC today.

Weather is expected to remain consistent through tomorrow afternoon: cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries (trace). Light SW winds. Alpine temps steady around -9 C.

Snowpack Summary

Windslabs exist on ridge crests and exposed areas in the alpine and at treeline. In sheltered areas, the upper meter of the snowpack is generally 'right side up'. Weak layers: Dec 13 surface hoar/facets are down 70-110cm, Dec 7 crust/surface hoar layer is down 110-130cm+. The Nov 5 crust lingers near the base of the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Small natural and skier triggered loose dry avalanches occurred yesterday on steeper, open slopes on all aspects and elevations.

Thursday, a skier accidental size 2 slab avalanche occurred in a SE Couloir on Mt Afton.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Problems

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.

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.

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.