Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 30th, 2013 9:34AM

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

Avalanche Canada jfloyer, Avalanche Canada

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: Dry, mostly cloudy with some sunny breaks. Treeline temperature around -1C. Ridgetop winds aronud 40 km/h from the W or NW.Wednesday: Dry, cloudy with some sunny periods. Temperatures starting cool but rising to around -2C in the afternoon. Winds around 30 km/h from the NW.Thursday:  Precipitation becoming steadily heavier through the day. Around 5 cm expected. Freezing levels rising in the afternoon to around 1500 m. SW winds up to 60 km/h.

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday, a natural size 2 avalanche was observed on a NE aspect at 1900 m. There have been no further reports of avalanche activity since then.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 25 cm of recent new snow in the past 5 days and moderate to strong west and northwest winds have formed pockets of wind slab on lee slopes. A layer of surface hoar is buried 20-25 cm down, and has been reactive with the new snow, soft slab and loose dry avalanches in steeper terrain.A little deeper (between 40 - 60 cm below the surface) you may find a weak layer of surface hoar on sheltered slopes or a crust/facet combo on steep solar aspects. As the load gradually increase and stiffens over top of this layer, it may well become more reactive.In general, snowpack depths are below seasonal average with many slopes below treeline still reported to be below threshold for avalanche activity. A deeper snowpack is likely in the northern part of the region.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Fresh wind slab is most likely to lurk immediately behind ridgetops and terrain breaks in exposed terrain.
Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Dec 31st, 2013 2:00PM

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