Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 25th, 2015 4:56PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
Conrad Janzen,
Avalanche Canada
Boxing Day specials on great skiing and Low hazard!
Continue to evaluate steep alpine terrain for small wind slabs that are beginning to form.
Summary
Weather Forecast
A high pressure system continues to hold bringing cool and stable weather with no new snow in the forecast until at least the 27th. Upper elevation Westerly winds will increase through Saturday. Tree line temperatures should stay between -10 and -16'C.
Snowpack Summary
A well settled snowpack with few weaknesses exists throughout the region. Some small isolated wind slabs exist on leeward slopes in the high alpine. Below 2000m the Dec 3 layer of surface hoar remains visible and produces hard, planar test results in some areas. This weakness is strengthening. Thin snow pack areas are beginning to facet out.
Avalanche Summary
One new natural slab avalanche was observed on a steep N facing hanging snowfield on White Pyramid, 15-20m wide and about 1m deep, possibly cornice triggered. Some sluffing has been observed in really steep terrain due to the increasing winds moving the low density surface snow .
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
Some thin, isolated winds slabs are beginning to form in leeward areas near ridge crests as the winds increase. Keep an eye out for these spots when entering steep terrain.
- Use safe ski cutting techniques before entering ski run.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
The slab above the Dec 3 surface hoar layer has not been very reactive recently. Snow pack tests produce shears in the moderate to hard range. This is mostly a concern in areas near the divide with a deeper snowpack and more snow over the weakness.
- Use caution on open slopes and convex rolls at treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
- Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 26th, 2015 4:00PM
