Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 13th, 2014 7:52AM

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

Avalanche Canada pgoddard, Avalanche Canada

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Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Mainly clear cool weather is expected until late Monday, when a system is expected to brush up against the coast and bring light snowfall. Freezing levels are near valley bottom. Moderate SE winds.

Avalanche Summary

A naturally triggered avalanche cycle was observed in response to the recent storm. At low elevations, many of these were wet and dug deep, failing to ground, up to size 2.5. At treeline and above, storm slabs and wind slabs were reported. In the north, large explosives triggered slabs up to size 3 failing on the November crust layer, with wide propagations at alpine elevations. Explosives testing produced smaller results by Friday.

Snowpack Summary

Recent heavy rain affected southern parts of the region up to alpine elevations, while the far north remained drier and sports a weaker snowpack in general. Areas which previously received rain have probably now formed a hard frozen crust. High alpine and far northern areas are likely to have wind slabs and large fragile cornices. Deeper in the snowpack, weaknesses such as the mid-November crust-facet layer are still of concern to some operators.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Wind slabs may be found behind terrain breaks like ridges and ribs. In some areas, a slab could fail on a deeply buried weakness, creating a surprisingly large avalanche.
Stay away from steep slopes below cornices.>Avoid recently wind loaded slopes by sticking to ridge crests or ribs. >Caution around convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 5

Valid until: Dec 14th, 2014 2:00PM