Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 9th, 2015 8:20AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Storm Slabs.

esharp, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Coastal.

The places you are going to find the best riding conditions in the wake of the storm are probably the same places where the danger from a layer of buried surface hoar is greatest.

Summary

Weather Forecast

THURSDAY: light snowfall, and moderate easterly winds, freezing level of 500m. FRIDAY: flurries, light to moderate southerly winds, freezing level of 500mr. SATURDAY: There is some uncertainty in the forecast track of the storm that should hit the coast on Saturday. Some models have it coming in further north which could bring another 10cm of snow to the north west others have it missing the region entirely.

Avalanche Summary

Widespread avalanche activity was reported throughout the recent storm.

Snowpack Summary

Fresh storm and wind slabs are apparently bonding poorly to a variety of weak layers down between 70cm and 1m. The most worrying of these is a layer of surface hoar, which has the potential for remote triggering and wide propagations. It is likely to be lurking in most sheltered areas at tree-line and below although it has been spotted well into the alpine in Bear Pass.Â Below 1500m heavy rains may have formed a new crust.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Natural avalanche activity should taper off as things dry out and cool off. However, storm and wind slabs will likely remain susceptible to human triggers for the forecast period.

Avoid open slopes and convex rolls at and below treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.>The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 5

Valid until: Dec 10th, 2015 2:00PM