Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 11th, 2017 3:59PM

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

Avalanche Canada swerner, Avalanche Canada

Triggering wind slabs remain a possibility. Seek sheltered terrain and shady aspects for decent riding conditions.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number and quality of field observations

Weather Forecast

Fairly benign weather pattern for the forecast period.Tuesday: Mostly cloudy. Alpine temperatures near -4 and freezing levels at valley bottom. Ridgetop winds light from the west. Wednesday: Cloudy with possible sunny breaks. Alpine temperatures near -5 with light west winds. Thursday: Mainly cloudy. Alpine temperatures near -7 with ridgetop winds light west.

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday, avalanche control using explosives produced avalanches up to size 1. On Monday, loose wet avalanche activity was observed from steep S-SW slopes up to size 1.Please submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

A variety of snow surfaces exist throughout the region. Stiff wind slabs sit on a wide range of aspects on alpine and exposed treeline slopes. In sheltered treeline and below treeline terrain, I suspect light amounts of low-density snow intermingle with surface hoar and surface facets.Roughly 30-60 cm below the surface you'll likely find a hard crust that was buried near the end of November. This crust is approximately 30 cm thick and extends from 1600 m to mountain top on all aspects. Below this crust, the snowpack is moist to ground. Average snowpack depths at treeline elevations in the region range from 80-120 cm.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Variable winds from last week have formed wind slabs on a wide range of aspects at higher elevations.
Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.Be careful with wind loaded areas, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 12th, 2017 2:00PM