Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 15th, 2019 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada kdevine, Avalanche Canada

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Use caution as you transition into wind exposed terrain. Avalanches are possible in alpine terrain where wind slabs have formed.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY NIGHT - Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries / southwest wind, 15-20 km/h / alpine low temperature near -4

MONDAY - Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries, 5 cm / southwest wind, 30-40 km/h / alpine high temperature near -2

TUESDAY - Rain and wet flurries, 10-15 cm / southwest wind, 40-70 km/h / alpine high temperature near +2 / freezing level 1500 m

WEDNESDAY - Rain and snow, 15-20 cm / southwest wind, 40-60 km/h / alpine high temperature near +2 / freezing level 1500 m, dropping to 800 m in the afternoon

Avalanche Summary

There have been no recent reports of avalanches, but there is very little information available at this time.

Wind slab avalanches could be triggered by humans, especially in wind loaded areas at higher elevations.

If you get out into the mountains, let us know what you see by posting to the Mountain Information Network!

Snowpack Summary

30-50 cm of snow fell last week at treeline and in the alpine. This snow sits on a weak layer of surface hoar above about 1400 m. Previous strong southwest winds have likely redistributed the new snow and formed wind slabs. The new snow sits on a very thin snowpack of about 30-50 cm at 1200 m.

Click here to check out a MIN report on snow conditions from near Mt.Seymour on Sunday.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Wind slabs could be encountered at higher elevations, and may be reactive to human triggers.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 16th, 2019 5:00PM