Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 10th, 2018 5:08PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

jfloyer, Avalanche Canada

South Rockies.

Avalanche danger is confined to variable, wind-affected slopes in the alpine.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Tuesday

Weather Forecast

Monday Night: Only trace amounts of new snow expected overnight.Tuesday: 2-4 cm new snow expected with moderate southwesterly winds. Freezing level rising to around 600 m at the end of the day. A further 10-20 cm possible Tuesday night. Wednesday: Flurries. Moderate northwesterly winds. Freezing level around 1200 m.Thursday: Florries. Strong southwesterly winds. Freezing level rising to around 1500 m.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported in the region. Small wind slabs have been reported in neighboring regions.

Snowpack Summary

Early season conditions prevail in this region with roughly 30-90 cm of snow in alpine areas and much less at lower elevations. Surface conditions may range from soft power, hard wind slab, and some sun crusts. Isolated pockets of stiff wind slab likely exist on leeward slopes. The bottom half of the snowpack is composed of weak facets and crusts. This layer has not been active, but terrain features like smooth alpine bowls with variable snowpack depths are still suspect given this snowpack structure.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Strong wind will transport loose snow and potentially form reactive slabs. Wind slabs have the potential for wide propagations if they step down to the weak snow in the lower snowpack.

If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect and exposure to wind.Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 11th, 2018 2:00PM