Change is coming, Expect the hazard to increase this weekend with new snow, strong winds and warm temps.Plan accordingly
Problèmes avalancheux
Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpin
Limite forestière
Sous la limite forestière
Probabilité
Unlikely - Possible
Taille
1–2.5
Winds have abated on all but the highest ridge tops where slabs will be at their most developed.
Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpin
Limite forestière
Sous la limite forestière
Probabilité
Unlikely - Possible
Taille
1–2.5
The new snow from last week is settling and the interface with the old snow surface, buried up to a meter deep, is strengthening. Large triggers such as cornices have produced several releases since the last storm.
Deep Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpin
Limite forestière
Sous la limite forestière
Probabilité
Unlikely - Possible
Taille
1.5–3.5
The base of the snowpack is weak and facetted. Likely trigger locations are around rocks, where cold air can penetrate to the base of the snowpack, and shallow snowpack locations.
Last weeks storm snow is providing support underfoot. Snow conditions at treeline is variable from powder in sheltered areas, to slabs and sastrugi in exposed locations and near ridge crests. The Dec. 11th persistent weak layer is buried 50-100cm. The deep persistent weakness lingers near the ground in the depth hoar and facets.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been observed in the last few days. Last weeks storm initiated several deep releases from the alpine up to size 3. They appear to have been triggered by cornice failures from South Easterly facing slopes. It is likely these occurred at the interface of last weeks snow and then stepped down to the basal weakness.
Confidence
Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Saturday