Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 19th, 2014 8:00AM

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

andrew jones, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Skiing is improving with new snow, but early season hazards remain at lower elevations. Buried surface hoar layer is becoming the main concern with increasing snow load. Watch out for fast moving natural and skier triggered sluffs in steep terrain.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Ongoing flurries amounting to 5cm of snowfall with moderate SW winds are expected throughout the day. A short lived ridge moves in later tonight to bring mostly dry conditions for Saturday morning. Early saturday evening, winds increase with a second pulse of precipitation bringing up to 10cm of snow by Sunday and 20cm for early next week.

Snowpack Summary

10-20cm of new snow has buried large surface hoar which sits on a rain crust to 2100m and on settled snow above 2100m. This is the most reactive layer in the snowpack. Surface hoar that was buried in early Dec is down ~40cm, is spotty in distribution. Well settled mid-pack with 30cm crust/facet basal weakness (Nov 9).

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed yesterday.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Problems

Loose Dry

10-20cm of new snow will be quite reactive on a buried surface hoar layer, especially in steep terrain. Expect natural and skier triggered sluffing. Watch out for slab formation when warm temperatures, strong winds and additional snow arrive.

Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

The November crust weaknesses at the bottom of the snowpack are difficult to trigger, but if they fail the consequences will be very high.

Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.Be wary of slopes that did not previously avalanche.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Dec 20th, 2014 8:00AM