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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 20th, 2021–Dec 21st, 2021

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

Regions

Glacier.

Great skiing abounds in the Pass! As the temps drop, toss some extra warm clothing into your pack. And why not a headlamp? Dec 21 is the shortest day of our winter!

Keep an eye out for wind slabs at ridge-top or on unsupported features.

Weather Forecast

A mixed weather Tues, a stormy Wed/Thurs, then an extended period of cold weather.

Tonight: Clear, Alpine high -16*C, light SW winds

Tues: Mix of sun/cloud, Alpine high -8*C, light SW winds

Wed: Snow, 25cm, Alpine high -8*C, mod/gusting strong SW winds

Thurs: Flurries, 6cm, Alpine high -6*C, light/gusting mod W winds

Snowpack Summary

Excellent snow quality can be found throughout the Park with 40cm of new snow from the weekend storm. The Dec 1 crust is ~10cm thick, buried 50-100cm deep, and can be found at elevations up to 2300m. Facets (loose, sugary crystals) have been found above and below this crust, particularly in shallow snowpack areas, at and just below tree line.

Avalanche Summary

No natural avalanche activity was observed by highway patrol nor by a field team in the Lookout/Ravens area.

Snowpack tests continue to give sporadic sudden results on the Dec 1 crust, particularly in shallower snowpack areas at tree line.

Confidence

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.

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.