Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 5th, 2015–Dec 6th, 2015

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Little Yoho.

More snow and more wind will thicken up the new slabs in the alpine. Surface hoar near treeline will begin to get more reactive. JP

Weather Forecast

The winds are picking up as the chinook flow re-establishes itself over the forecast area. A series of disturbances is forecast to begin Sunday afternoon with 10-15 cm of snow. There will be more precipitation in the northern and western portions of the forecast area. Temperatures are expected to remain cool

Snowpack Summary

Surface hoar, sun crust and facets now buried by 5-20cm in the alpine. Surface hoar to 20mm has been found up to 1800m. South and Southwest winds are back in the moderate range. Opens areas near or above treeline are a mix of hard or very hard windslabs and facets. Poorly bonded windslabs can be expected at ridge-crests and in lee areas.

Avalanche Summary

Only small avalanches from from alpine terrain were reported today.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.