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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 10th, 2015–Dec 11th, 2015
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable
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
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable

Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Now is an excellent time to put your snow profile skills to work - the Dec 3 surface hoar layer is widespread below 1800 m. Dig down, look for this layer, and test it - this has the potential to become a tricky persistent slab avalanche problem.

Weather Forecast

The main storm pulse is now over for the Rockies, but expect Friday to be overcast with flurries and accumulations of a few centimeters. Temperatures will range from -4 to -10 and winds will be light to moderate from the west.

Snowpack Summary

50-70 cm of storm snow has fallen over the past 7 days, now settled into a cohesive slab overlying a significant weak layer of surface hoar below treeline (and just into treeline). Distribution of this layer is still vague, but you should assume it's widespread below 1800 m. In the alpine, winds from the recent storm have left widespread windslabs.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control at the Sunshine ski resort produced small slab avalanches in leeward areas, but otherwise no significant avalanches have been reported - keep in mind that backcountry observations have been very limited over the past week.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Avalanche Problems

Storm Slabs

40-70cm of storm snow has fallen over the week, now settled into a slab overlying a dangerous layer of surface hoar below treeline. Treat all slopes below treeline with suspicion until you can rule out this weak layer.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Wind Slabs

The recent storm was accompanied by moderate to strong winds at treeline and above. For a few more days, watch out for fresh windslabs in typically suspicious areas after a storm: leeward and cross loaded slopes or slopes near ridge crests.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2