Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 9th, 2014 8:33AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Loose Wet.

jlammers, Avalanche Canada

South Rockies.

This bulletin was published using very limited field data. You can help by using the new Mountain Information Network. For more info, check out this blog post: http://www.avalanche.ca/blogs/VIYBuScAAJdbdqPz/m-i-n-intro

Summary

Confidence

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

A series of sub-tropical systems will make their way through the region on Wednesday and Thursday bringing light precipitation, freezing levels to about 2400m and strong southwest winds. By Friday, precipitation should taper-off dramatically with light southwest winds and freezing levels hovering at about 1500m.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanche activity reported. If you've witnessed any avalanches, please send a note to forecaster@avalanche.ca

Snowpack Summary

Recent warming suggests snow surfaces are likely moist or wet at most elevations. There is at least one, maybe more, problematic layers in the South Rockies snowpack. Up to about 90cm of settled snow overlies a weak layer of facets and crusts which formed during November's dry spell. Not much is known about the reactivity of this layer, nor the slab above it. But, it doesn't take much of a leap of faith to understand that a meter deep slab sitting on a persistent weak layer is a potentially bad thing.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Warm temperatures and the load from rain may spark renewed destructive avalanche activity on weak layers near the base of the snowpack. These weak layers may surprise with nasty consequences.

Avoid large alpine slopes that have a deeply buried crust with facets. >Avoid slopes with variable snowpack depths. Avalanches may be triggered from thin spots around boulders or small trees.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 5

Loose Wet

Warming may trigger loose wet avalanche activity, especially in areas where loose snow overrides a hard crust.

Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Dec 10th, 2014 2:00PM