Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 15th, 2015–Dec 16th, 2015

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Glacier.

The buried surface hoar and sun crust could still be reactive to a skier/riders weight and if triggered would result in a large avalanche. Keep this in mind when choosing your line. As well, be alert when entering wind affected areas.

Weather Forecast

Today we can expect mostly cloudy skies with isolated flurries, light mountain top winds from the SW gusting into moderate, with the temp to remain around -9 in the alpine. Clearing Wednesday, temps will be cool (-12 in the alpine) and winds switching to the NW.

Snowpack Summary

30cm of snow covers a supportive crust below 1600m. 60-80cm of settled snow covers the Dec 2 interface. Below tree line Dec 2 surface hoar has showed no recent activity. On steep solar aspects above treeline Dec 2 is a sun crust and remains reactive in tests in the mod - hard range. Expect pockets of wind affected snow at tree line and above.

Avalanche Summary

Pockets of wind affected snow above 2200m from previous wind events. Skier triggering is possible and reported to be within the top 20cm of snow, cracking up to 10m wide. Keep this in mind when transitioning into open slopes.No reports of the Dec 2 interface being reactive over the weekend, but this layer can still trigger a large avalanche.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slabs

80-100cm of settling snow sits on top of the Dec 2 persistent weak layer, which is surface hoar at and below tree line and sun crust on solar aspects tree line to alpine. The layer has produced moderate-hard results in field tests.

Avoid open slopes and convex rolls at and below treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 2 - 3