Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 27th, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs.
lbaker,
Avalanche Canada
Additional snow continues to build thick storm slabs at higher elevations. Dial back your terrain choices if you are seeing more than 30 cm of new snow.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Monday, natural wet slab avalanches, up to size 2.5, were observed at 1800 m and below. Slab depths were 40-60 cm.
On Sunday, several natural wet loose avalanches up to size 2.5 were reported from 1800 m and below the Coquihalla highway corridor. A size 2.5 natural storm slab avalanche was observed on an east aspect in the alpine. Backcountry users should expect to see continued evidence of the weekend's natural avalanche cycle.
Please continue to post your observations and photos to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
In the alpine 30 - 40 cm of snow and variable southerly winds have built cohesive slabs in lees. Below 1500 m the snowpack is thoroughly saturated and waiting for freezing levels to drop to refreeze.
At the start of the storm, fresh snow covered a layer of facetted and unconsolidated snow that formed during the recent cold weather. The snowpack was well settled and bonding well. Snowpack depths reach 200 cm at treeline and higher.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
Mainly cloudy. Precipitation continues tonight with another 5-10 mm, local 20 mm. Westerley winds 40-60 km/h. Ridgetop low temperature -2. Freezing levels 1000-1400 m.
Wednesday
Scattered flurries 10 mm. Southwesterly winds 20-40 km/h. Ridgetop high temperature -3. Freezing levels 700-1000 m.
Scattered flurries continue through the night, 2 - 8 mm. Freezing levels 500-1000 m
ThursdayMainly cloudy with scattered flurries, 2-5 mm. Southerly winds 40 km/h. Ridgetop high temperature 0 C. Freezing levels hover from 1000m.
FridayCloudy with flurries, 10-15 mm. Westerley 40-60 km/h winds. Ridgetop high temperature 0 C. Freezing levels hover near 1000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Southerly winds have redistributed 30-40 cm of new snow into deep pockets at higher elevations. Where snow remained dry expect to find pockets of storm slabs that are reactive to human-triggering. Be especially cautious transitioning into wind-loaded terrain, more reactive deposits lurk in leeward features.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 28th, 2022 4:00PM
