Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 17th, 2016 4:31PM

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

Avalanche Canada mbender, Avalanche Canada

Expect the avalanche danger to rise over the coming days as the temperature rises, snowfall amounts accumulate and the wind picks up

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Sunday

Weather Forecast

Sunday: Snow flurries, accumulations 5-10cm / Moderate to strong southwest wind / Alpine temperature -4Monday: Snow, accumulations 20-30cm / Moderate to strong southwest wind / Alpine temperature -3Tuesday: Cloudy with flurries, accumulations 5-10cm / Moderate to strong wind / Alpine temperature of -3

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported, but expect the recent storm snow to be reactive to light triggers in areas where it has settled into a cohesive slab, such as lee slopes near ridgecrests and terrain breaks and sun-exposed slopes.

Snowpack Summary

New snow overlies the previous variable snow surface from last week, which includes hard wind pressed or scoured areas, old wind slabs, weak faceted snow, or surface hoar. New wind slabs that have formed in response to southwest winds, or subsequent northerly winds, are sensitive to light triggers with recent reports of easy hand shears and cracking around skis. In the Duffey Lake area, recent snowpack tests gave moderate sudden planar results down 36 cm on buried surface hoar. Weaknesses have also been found within the recent storm snow with reports of moderate snowpack test results on preserved stellars down 48cm in the Coquihalla Pass area. The widespread mid-November crust typically down around a metre. Recent snowpack tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could become a problem in shallow alpine start zones.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Fresh soft and old hard wind slabs are lurking on all aspects below ridgecrests and behind terrain features. Forecast winds are expected to keep wind slabs fresh and touchy.
Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 18th, 2016 2:00PM

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