Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 10th, 2011 9:13AM

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

Avalanche Canada ghelgeson, Avalanche Canada

Summary

Confidence

Good - -1

Weather Forecast

Sunday looks to be a pretty mild weather day. Winds will be light out of the E-NE, freezing levels remain at valley bottom and temperatures stay steady at -7. A weak ridge builds back into the area Monday before breaking down Tuesday allowing another mild system to approach the region. Light precipitation is expected Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Totals are pretty shaky at this point but I'm not expecting anything significant.

Avalanche Summary

No significant recent avalanche activity has been reported. If you have any avalanche observations to report, please email us at: forecaster@avalanche.ca.

Snowpack Summary

Great observations continue to come into the office.On the surface, cold clear nights are generating some very significant surface hoar development. I'm hearing reports of SH varying in size from 3mm to as much as 40mm with an average around 12mm. Wow! It looks like we get a few dribs and drabs of snow next week which will likely preserve at least some of this surface hoar. It's too early to say where it will be a factor, but the writing is on the wall.Generally speaking, we're looking at a pretty bomber snowpack. Yes, there are some basal weaknesses on the ground but these are being well bridged by the strong mid-pack. Sure, there's a chance that you could activate these weaknesses in an area where the pack is going from thick to thin. (Steep terrain, especially near rock outcroppings.) But, the overall avalanche danger for the area is low. See the forecasters' blog for a heads up discussion on low danger.The alpine snowpack is 150-200 cm, dropping to treeline you'll find depths of 50-150cm.If you're out & about please drop me a line & let me know what you're seeing:forecaster@avalanche.ca

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
These wind slabs are getting old & tired, but you may still find the odd rider trigerable wind slab in lee locations near ridgetop.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 11th, 2011 8:00AM

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