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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 20th, 2014–Dec 21st, 2014

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Glacier.

Use extra caution at higher elevations and wind-exposed areas. The recently minted storm slab is poorly bonded to a reactive SH layer.

Weather Forecast

Cloudy skies with flurries are expected for this morning and early this afternoon with freezing levels remaining below 1400m. A strong low pressure system is expected to bring strong SW winds and heavy precipitation to the area later this afternoon and into the evening.

Snowpack Summary

20-30cm of new snow has buried large surface hoar which sits on a rain crust to 2100m and on settled snow above 2100m. Overnight winds have likely consolidated new snow into storm slabs at higher elevations. Well settled mid-pack with 30cm crust/facet basal weakness.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed in the Highway Corridor. We received a report of a natural avalanche in Cheops North #4, running to the creek in Connaught Creek drainage.

Confidence

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.