Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 25th, 2012 3:00PM

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

pgoddard, Avalanche Canada

South Coast.

Summary

Confidence

Fair

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: Light SW winds. Alpine temp -8. A few cm snow.Thursday/Friday: Light SW winds. Alpine temp -7. No precipitation on Thurs; light snow possible on Friday.

Avalanche Summary

A skier is reported to have triggered a size 2.5 slab on Saturday on a wind-loaded SW aspect at treeline in the Duffey lake area. Soft slabs and fast running loose dry avalanches were also failing naturally over the weekend. No avalanches were reported on Monday.

Snowpack Summary

New wind slabs have developed lee to both SE and down-valley winds. Apart from a couple of strengthening storm snow weaknesses, the snowpack is generally well-settled. Surface hoar layers in the upper/mid snowpack appear to be gaining strength but still exhibit hard, sudden results in snowpack tests. Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer appears to be inactive. Although unlikely, triggering an avalanche on this layer may be possible from thin snowpack areas or with a very heavy trigger.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Winds have shifted available snow into slabs behind ridges and ribs. These could be triggered by the weight of a person or snowmobile. Cornices are also fragile.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>Stay well back from cornices.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Dec 26th, 2012 2:00PM