Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 4th, 2017 5:15PM

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

cgarritty, Avalanche Canada

Lizard-Flathead.

Lingering wind slab problems are keeping avalanche danger in a holding pattern for one more day. Strong sunshine and warming are set to undermine stability later in the week.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow. Light west winds. Alpine temperatures of -6.Wednesday: A mix of sun and cloud. LIght west winds. Alpine temperatures around -4 and rising in late afternoon and evening as a strong temperature inversion establishes itself.Thursday: Mainly sunny with possible thin valley cloud. Light west winds. Strong alpine temperature inversion bringing alpine temperatures to around +5. Slightly cooler at lower elevations.

Avalanche Summary

Reports from Monday showed a couple of wind slabs releasing naturally and with ski cutting to Size 1.5 in the Fernie area. On Sunday, avalanche control with explosives triggered numerous size 1 dry loose avalanches above 1900 m from northeast aspects. Reactive wind slabs and dry loose avalanches may persist through Tuesday. Please submit your observations this weekend to the Mountain Information Network. Give info, get info.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 50 cm of accumulated storm snow has fallen on the crust that formed a week ago. The buried crust is supportive and approximately 10 cm thick. It extends from 1600 m to mountain top elevations on all aspects. Lots of uncertainty exists with the new snow sticking to the crust. Winds are likely redistributing the new snow above treeline and possibly forming wind slabs on leeward slopes and terrain features. The average snowpack depth at treeline is 60-80 cm while a deeper snowpack exists in the alpine.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Avalanche activity has become increasingly localized to wind affected areas where wind slabs have been building. Keep your guard up in wind-sheltered areas. Dry loose avalanches may be able to push you into terrain features that have consequence.

Be careful with wind loaded areas, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain, particularly where the debris flows into terrain traps.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 5th, 2017 2:00PM