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Avalanche Forecast

Dec 28th, 2014–Dec 29th, 2014
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
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
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
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Sea To Sky.

Good weather for backcountry travel, but stay alert to variable avalanche conditions.

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Cold and dry with light to moderate N-NE outflow winds. A temperature inversion may form on Tuesday/Wednesday.

Avalanche Summary

On Friday a few size 1-1.5 wind slabs failed in steep terrain. On Wednesday, a snowboarder triggered a size 2-2.5 slab on a north aspect at 1900 m in the Callahan area. The crown was 10cm-100cm deep. The slab is believed to have failed on a crust. The snowboarder was buried, but was recovered safely by companion rescue.

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm recent snow is expected to be shifted into wind slabs on lee terrain features. The recent snow overlies variable surfaces including large surface hoar crystals, old wind slabs and wind-scoured surfaces. A deeper layer of surface hoar buried in mid-December (now down 40-70cm) has been gradually gaining strength, but may still be a concern in some areas. The mid and lower snowpack contain several old crust layers, one of which may have been the failure layer for a recent burial (see avalanche summary).

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Recent winds have built wind slabs on slopes facing roughly east. As winds swing around to come from the north or east, new wind slabs could develop on a variety of slopes.
Travel on ridgetops to avoid wind slabs on slopes below.>Avoid open slopes and convex rolls at and below treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.>Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 3