Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 17th, 2017 4:39PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs.
mgrist,
Avalanche Canada
Fresh storm slabs may bond poorly to chunky, variable crusts. Watch for how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
Monday will see a brief lull in the active weather pattern before significant precipitation arrives on Tuesday.MONDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries. Accumulation of 5 cm possible. Ridge wind light from the west. Temperature near 0. Freezing level 800 m.TUESDAY: Snow. Accumulation 20-30 cm. Ridge wind light from the southeast. Temperature near -1. Freezing level 700 m. WEDNESDAY: Sunny with cloudy periods. Ridge wind moderate northerly. Freezing level 600 m.
Avalanche Summary
On Sunday, skiers were able to trigger Size 1 storm slabs on westerly aspects near tree line in the North Shore mountains.
Snowpack Summary
10-25cm of snow from the weekend now sits on a widespread melt-freeze crust, which exists on all aspects and elevations. How well the incoming new snow bonds to this crust will be a critical determinant of avalanche danger on Monday.Below the snow surface, the upper snowpack is well-settled and bonding well to the late-November rain crust. Below tree line the snow pack is thin and there are many early season hazards. Snowpack depths range from 40 cm at 800 m elevation to 200 cm at 1220 m.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Initial reports suggest the new snow is bonding well to an underlying crust. Take a conservative approach to terrain use if you find more than 20cm of new snow on a firm crust.
Watch for signs of instability such as whumpfing, cracking or recent natural avalanches.Choose conservative lines and watch for clues of instability.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 18th, 2017 2:00PM
