Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 1st, 2014 8:05AM

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

triley, Avalanche Canada

Sea To Sky.

Changing wind directions may have developed windslabs or an icy crust on any aspect. Windslabs may slide easily where they are sitting on a hard crust.

Summary

Confidence

Poor - Due to the number and quality of field observations

Weather Forecast

Mostly clear overnight with moderate Northwest winds and alpine temperatures around -12. Clear on Tuesday with light Northeast winds and alpine temperatures rising to about -5. There is a chance of a temperature inversion on Wednesday that might leave some near freezing air trapped in the alpine with clear skies and light winds.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches reported.

Snowpack Summary

Surface hoar and near surface facets are reported to be growing during the cold and clear weather. Strong Northeast outflow winds developed windslabs 10-40 cm deep since Friday, and then strong and variable winds have since loaded and reverse loaded the light dry snow that came at the end of the storm. Below this new snow is a solid weight bearing crust in all but the highest alpine slopes. There is a chance that a consolidated slab exists in some areas in the alpine above a deeply buried crust from earlier in November.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Changing winds have developed thin windslabs that may be on any aspect in the alpine or at treeline.

Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.>Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Avoid travelling in areas that have been reverse loaded by winds.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

A deep slab may exist in the alpine at high elevations where the rain did not reach the summits.

Choose well supported terrain without convexities.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

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