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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 17th, 2012–Dec 18th, 2012

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

Regions

Purcells.

There is a lot of North to South variability in this region. If you are in the far South, take a look at the Kootenay-Boundary Bulletin.

Confidence

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain on Wednesday

Weather Forecast

Overnight and Tuesday: Strong Westerly winds are expected Monday night as the Low pressure near the U.S. border moves to the East of the Rockies. Flurries are forecast to continue overnight with little accumulation ( 2-3 mm). During the day on Tuesday the wind should lower to about 30 km/hr from the Northwest under overcast skies with sporadic flurries. Temperatures will remain cold, minus 15.0 in the alpine.Wednesday: The weak ridge is expected to break down in the afternoon when the Southwest winds increase to strong and the next Pacific system starts to move in from the coast.Thursday: Strong Southwest winds and moderate to heavy precipitation are forecast during the next storm. Timing is uncertain.

Avalanche Summary

Ski cutting produced soft slab avalanches up to size 1.0 in the North of the Region.

Snowpack Summary

The recent storm deposited 10-15 cms in the North of the region near Golden, and 20-25 cms further South near the Purcell Wilderness Conservancy. Some areas reported a new layer of surface hoar that developed just before the storm in the North of the region, and are now buried down 5-15 cms. Thin new windslabs continue to grow as strong Southeast winds transport snow at alpine elevations in the North. Strong Southwest winds are transporting snow into wind slabs in the South of the region.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.