Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 8th, 2018 5:15PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Deep Persistent Slabs.
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Avalanche Canada
Avalanches are most likely in alpine terrain where the snow feels stiff or slabby, especially on wind-affected slopes.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY NIGHT: Increasing cloud, light wind, alpine temperatures drop to -15 C.SUNDAY: Mainly cloudy with chance of light flurries in the afternoon, moderate wind out of the southwest, alpine high temperatures around -6 C.MONDAY: Cloudy, moderate wind out of the west, alpine high temperatures around -4 C.TUESDAY: Flurries with 2-4 cm of snow, moderate wind out of the west, alpine high temperatures around -4 C.
Avalanche Summary
Recent avalanche activity has been limited to a few small wind slabs and loose dry avalanches mostly in steep alpine terrain.The last notable avalanche reported was a size 2 human triggered avalanche last Sunday in Cornice Bowl north of Fernie. It occurred on a northwest facing feature at 2300 m and ran on a November crust. There are good photos in this MIN report.
Snowpack Summary
Early season conditions prevail in this region with roughly 100 cm of snow in alpine areas and much less at lower elevations. Surface conditions range from soft power, to hard wind slab, and some sun crusts.The main concern is the snowpack is a combination of weak sugary snow and crusts in the bottom half of the snowpack. See the snow profile in our field team's MIN report here for a visual representation of the snowpack. The crust is most prevalent at and above treeline and is likely most problematic on north-facing features, especially those that are large and planar in nature.
Problems
Deep Persistent Slabs
The weak snow in the lower snowpack could produce large avalanches. Be cautions in areas where the surface snow has formed a cohesive slab, such as wind deposits.
Back off if you encounter signs of instability like whumphing, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 9th, 2018 2:00PM
