Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 4th, 2017 4:03PM

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

shorton, Avalanche Canada

South Columbia.

Wind slabs are reactive at higher elevations. Pay attention to changes in snow conditions and avoid areas where the snow feels stiff or slabby.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain on Wednesday

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY: Alpine sun and valley cloud, light northwest wind, alpine temperatures warming to -5 C.WEDNESDAY: Sunny with valley cloud, light wind, inversion forming with alpine temperatures possibly reaching above 0 C.THURSDAY: Sunny with valley cloud, light wind, inversion with freezing level up to 3000 m.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity following last week's storms has tapered off. Numerous size 1-2 human-triggered storm slab avalanches were reported on Saturday, but activity on Sunday was mostly limited to size 1 wind slabs triggered by ski cutting on steep convex rolls. A notable avalanche was triggered on Saturday west of Revelstoke, where a ski cut propagated down to the late November crust and produced a size 2.5 avalanche. Large avalanches running on this crust may become a concern later this week when temperatures rise.

Snowpack Summary

Snow from last week's storms is settling and getting redistributed into fresh wind slabs by northwest winds. Roughly 30-70 cm of recent snow sits above various crusts from the warm weather in late November. Most reports suggest the snow is bonding to the crusts so far, but there's potential for this layer to develop into a problem in the future. Snow depths decrease rapidly below treeline, where the primary hazards are rocks, stumps, and open creeks.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Avalanches are most likely on wind-loaded slopes downwind of ridges and gullies. Changes in wind direction will likely form fresh wind slabs on a variety of aspects.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.Choose well supported terrain without convexities.Watch for signs of instability such as whumpfing, or cracking.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 5th, 2017 2:00PM