Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 3rd, 2013–Dec 4th, 2013

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Northwest Coastal.

Data is very limited from this region. If you're out in the snow, please send your observations to [email protected]

Confidence

Poor - Due to the quality of field observations

Weather Forecast

Overnight and Wednesday: Clear and cold. Overnight lows dipping to -10 and daytime highs near -5 at treeline. Winds are moderate to strong from the North-Northwest. Thursday: Mainly sunny. Treeline temperatures should hover between -5 and -10 and winds remain moderate to strong from the North. Friday: Mainly sunny. Temperatures could drop slightly and northerly outflow winds continue.

Avalanche Summary

Recent observations near Shames include a few natural wind slabs to size 1.5 on steep convexities from northerly outflow winds on Monday. Previously a couple large glide slab releases were reported in steep terrain (up to size 3). Expect wind slabs to remain touchy on South and West aspects from continued outflow winds.

Snowpack Summary

Around 40 cm of recent storm snow has fallen in some areas. This new snow may not bond well initially to the previous snow surface, especially where it sits on a crust. Northerly outflow winds picked up on Monday forming dense wind slabs in exposed lee terrain and scouring windward terrain. Rain at lower elevations (below 1000-1200 m) last week saturated the lower snowpack forming a solid rain crust, now down up to 40 cm depending on elevation. Average snowpack depths near treeline are around 100 cm.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

New wind slabs are likely in exposed lee terrain at all elevations from northerly outflow winds. These wind slabs may be in unusual areas and could be triggered by the weight of a rider.

Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>Avoid travelling in areas that have been reverse loaded by winds.>Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 3