Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 22nd, 2015 7:44AM

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

Avalanche Canada pgoddard, Avalanche Canada

Variable storm slab/ wind slab conditions: make observations continually as you travel.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Weather Forecast

An unsettled NW flow brings light snow and cold temperatures. Tonight: trace; Wednesday: 10 cm; Thursday: 5-10 cm; Friday: trace. Winds are generally light. The freezing level stays at the surface. For more details check out http://www.avalanche.ca/weather.

Avalanche Summary

Skiers triggered numerous loose dry and soft slab avalanches on Sunday in the size 1-2 range. There were also numerous natural loose dry and storm slab avalanches out of steep terrain. On Monday, skier triggering eased, but explosives still produced several size 1-2 storm slabs.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 50 cm of low density snow now covers various surfaces, including the reactive mid-December surface hoar. This surface hoar can be found on all aspects in protected areas, but does not seem to be widespread across the region. In many areas, the new snow sits on top of a thin rain crust. No matter what the new snow overlies, it has been bonding poorly in most steep terrain. Moderate SW winds recently formed fresh wind slabs on lee features at treeline and in the alpine. At treeline elevation the early December crust, down around 50-100 cm, is thick and supportive, and may be capping deeper weaknesses. It may also be providing a good sliding surface for the odd larger avalanche.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
Recent snow has formed touchy soft slabs. Be especially wary in the lee of ridges and ribs.
On steep slopes, pull over periodically or cut into a new line to manage sluffing.>Avoid freshly wind loaded features and use ridges/ribs to sneak around these problem areas.>Avoid open slopes and convex rolls at and below treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Dec 23rd, 2015 2:00PM