Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 10th, 2015 8:50AM
The alpine rating is Storm Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeThe 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
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number and quality of field observations
Weather Forecast
The next few storms are tracking to the south and are going to largely miss the Northwest regions. FRIDAY: flurries, light southwest wind, freezing level 500m. SATURDAY: flurries, light east winds, freezing level 500m. SUNDAY: clear, moderate northwest winds. Freezing level valley bottom.
Avalanche Summary
Widespread avalanche activity was reported throughout the recent storm, with many of these avalanche reported to be releasing on a layer of surface hoar now buried between 70cm and 1m deep
Snowpack Summary
Up to a meter of settled snow now sits upon a layer of buried surface hoar. This layer has the potential for remote triggering and wide propagations. It is likely to be lurking in most sheltered areas at tree-line although it has been spotted well into the alpine in Bear Pass. Southwesterly winds are loading lee features. Below 1500m heavy rains have likely saturated the snow pack and may have formed a new rain crust
Problems
Storm Slabs
Human triggered avalanches are possible, especially in wind loaded features in the alpine and at tree-line where the recent storm snow may be sitting on a layer of buried surface hoar.
The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.>Avoid open slopes and convex rolls at and below treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.>
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 11th, 2015 2:00PM