Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 20th, 2015 7:34AM

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

triley, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

Pockets of thin windslab may continue to exist in the alpine and at treeline.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the quality of field observations

Weather Forecast

Chance of a couple of cm overnight and flurries during the day Monday. Treeline temperatures around -12 with light to moderate westerly winds. Flurries on Tuesday with light southerly winds and some broken skies. Wednesday overcast with flurries and -15 at treeline. The north of the region may be under mostly clear skies and arctic air by Tuesday evening.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches reported. Incremental loading should develop thin new wind slabs on lee aspects.

Snowpack Summary

A trace of new snow overnight has not changed the conditions. Shallow early season conditions continue with 80-100 cm at treeline in the south and west of the region, and closer to 60 cm in the east. Stiff wind slabs have been reported above treeline in the lee of variable and changing winds. The winds were out of the northeast in areas under the influence of arctic air, and out of the south or southeast when the snow moved across from the coast. The surface hoar reported last week is variable in its distribution and may be hard to find. Weak basal layers may exist in shallow snowpacks that have experienced continuous cold temperatures.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Thin new windslabs may continue to exist at higher elevations.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>Avoid travelling in areas that have been reverse loaded by winds.>

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 21st, 2015 2:00PM