Avalanche forecast

South Columbia

Dec 24 – 25, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Tricky conditions exist.

With persistent layers producing large avalanches, stick to conservative terrain - choose supported, lower angle slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Watch for wind slabs near ridgelines and mid slope rollovers. Slabs may step down to buried weak layers.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–3

    Cornices have been very reactive recently, and have the potential to trigger large and destructive avalanches on the early December interface. Minimize your exposure, they may pull farther back than you expect.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3

    Recent avalanches included cornices and remote triggers - showing a range of sensitivity which brings uncertainty. Avoid large open slopes at treeline, where fragile surface hoar is more likely to be preserved.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity continues in this region with numerous natural and human triggered avalanches within the storm snow, primarily in wind loaded treeline and alpine features.

Multiple avalanches on the early December interface have occurred over the past five days, on north, east and west facing slopes around 2200 m. This includes large remotely triggered slabs, and human triggered cornice-falls triggering slabs on the slope below.

Snowpack Summary

Light amounts of snow continue to accumulate, falling on wind affected settling storm snow or a melt freeze crust on sun affected slopes. Cornices are large and fragile, with mild temperatures continuing to weaken them.

The upper snowpack continues to settle and bond with recent mild temperatures. A concerning layer of facets, crusts, and in some places surface hoar is buried 50 to 100 cm deep. The distribution is variable throughout this region but it is most prevalent between 1700 to 2300 m. Large avalanches occurred on this layer on Saturday and Sunday, in north through southwest facing slopes above treeline.

Treeline snow depths range from 100 to 180 cm.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Mostly cloudy with flurries. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy with flurries. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be aware of the potential for large, destructive avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
  • Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.
  • Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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