Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 14th, 2013 8:13AM

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

jlammers, Avalanche Canada

Kootenay Boundary.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Overnight Saturday and Sunday: Light snowfall / Strong westerly winds / Freezing level at 1350mMonday: Light flurries / Moderate westerly winds / Freezing level at 700mTuesday: Moderate snowfall / Strong southerly winds / Freezing level at 1200m

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches have been reported in the last few days.

Snowpack Summary

Roughly 15-20cm of recent snowfall overlies weak faceted crystals, small surface hoar or older hard windslabs in exposed high elevation terrain. Between 35 and 50cm below the surface you may find a weak layer of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and a melt-freeze crust on steep solar aspects. Most reports indicate this layer is "stubborn" to trigger, or there may not be a deep enough overlying slab to create a significant hazard. That said, I'd remain curious about this interface, especially as the snow load increases.There are reports of a deeply buried early season crust that formed in October, this layer is more likely to be found in the high alpine on northerly aspects. Little is known about its reactivity in this region.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Light amounts of new snow may be hiding hard wind slabs which formed by northeasterly winds during the last cold snap. Although these windslabs have become less likely to trigger, this atypical loading pattern could catch riders by surprise.

The recent snow may now be hiding windslabs that were easily visible before the snow fell.>Avoid travelling in areas that have been reverse loaded by winds.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

A weak interface buried at the end of November is now buried by up to 50cm of snow. This layer may see increased reactivity with forecast snowfall.

Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.>Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Dec 15th, 2013 2:00PM