Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 1st, 2014 7:57AM

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

triley, Avalanche Canada

South Coast.

Recent winds have developed pockets of windslab at higher elevations.

Summary

Confidence

Poor - Due to the number and quality of field observations

Weather Forecast

Clearing overnight with no precipitation. Clear on Tuesday with light Southwest winds and alpine temperatures around -12. Clear on Wednesday with a chance of a temperature inversion bringing near freezing temperatures to the alpine with light winds. Valleys should remain around -10.

Avalanche Summary

No new reports of avalanches. Please let us know what you're seeing out there at forecaster@avalanche.ca.

Snowpack Summary

There are few actual observations from the region to start the season. This is based mostly off weather station data and the weather forecast. Most areas experienced heavy rain last week up to 2000 m, or even higher. Higher elevations may have continued to see wet snow accumulate, and possibly a lot of it. Rapid cooling early on Friday has probably left a new rain crust near the surface, but in some areas it's already buried by 10-15 cm of light snow. A weak layer of facetted snow on a crust may be lurking deeper in the snowpack. However, it's possible this weakness was 'flushed' out with the recent heavy precipitation. There's limited recent info on this weakness so I recommend digging to confirm the existence of the layer, its depth, and to test its strength.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Northeasterly winds have developed pockets of windslab in the alpine and at treeline. These windslabs may continue to be triggered by human activity where they are sitting on a crust that provides an easy sliding surface.

Cold temperatures may have stabilized the snowpack, but watch out for lingering instabilities in alpine terrain.>Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.>Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Dec 2nd, 2014 2:00PM