Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 28th, 2014 7:34AM

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

triley, Avalanche Canada

Cariboos.

Avalanche danger is expected to remain at Considerable during the forecast cold and clear weather for the end of the year.

Summary

Confidence

Fair

Weather Forecast

Gradually clearing overnight with strong Northeast winds and alpine temperatures dropping down to about -20. Mostly clear and cold on Monday with light to moderate Northeast winds and alpine high temperatures around -18. Clear and cold on Tuesday with light Northwest winds. Continued clear and cold on Wednesday.

Avalanche Summary

Several natural size 1.0 avalanches were reported on Saturday. Natural avalanche activity is tapering off as the storm ends and the storm slab settles. Human triggering continues to be likely to very likely due to the storm slab sitting on a hard sliding surface with a weak layer of surface hoar at the interface.

Snowpack Summary

Some new windslab has formed at higher elevations that is 20-40 cm thick, easy to trigger, and may step down to the mid-December surface hoar. The touchy mid-December surface hoar layer is now buried below a 50-90 cm consolidated slab that developed during last weeks storm. Below 2100 m this slab sits on a thick, solid crust/ surface hoar combination and has been acting as a perfect sliding layer. A hard rain crust with facets from early November is buried over 1 m down and is currently unreactive, however; triggering from shallow rocky and unsupported terrain remains a concern.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

The recent storm slab may be triggered by light additional loads like a skier/rider. Remotely triggering avalanches from travel on adjacent terrain continues to be likely.

Stick to simple terrain, small features with limited consequence and be aware of what is above you at all times.>Use conservative route selection, dig down and test weak layers before committing.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 5

Wind Slabs

New windslabs have developed in the alpine and at treeline that may be easy to trigger. Changing wind direction may develop reverse loading.

Avoid new windslabs that develop as the wind direction shifts to the Northeast.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Dec 29th, 2014 2:00PM