Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 7th, 2016 3:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
esharp,
Avalanche Canada
Variable wind effect is being reported across the region. Reactive hard or soft wind slabs may be found depending on where you are riding.
Summary
Weather Forecast
A descending artic front is going to dominate the weather for the next few days with a cooling and clearing trend. Friday will be mainly cloudy with isolated flurries in the morning. Saturday and Sunday will be mainly sunny and dry. Winds are expected to be light from the west throughout the forecast period with the freezing level hanging out at valley floor.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported recently.
Snowpack Summary
The Avalanche Canada field team has been finding variable conditions across the region. In the east of the region the snow surface is widely wind affected with thin but stiff wind slabs in lee features at treeline and in the alpine. In areas that have seen less wind (a good indicator would snow still hanging on the trees) these wind slabs may be softer, deeper and sitting on a layer of surface hoar about 45cm down. In either case snow pit tests in wind loaded features show these slabs are failing under moderate loads and can propagate over wide distances. At lower elevations a skiff of new snow may be covering a layer of recently buried surface hoar. The early December crust can be found down around 60cm and is thought to be capping any deeper weaknesses.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Snow pit tests suggest that large wind slabs may be triggered by riders in the alpine and at treeline. Watch out for hard slabs in more wind effected areas whilst deeper soft slabs sitting above surface hoar my be lurking in calmer drainages.
Today is not the day to set the record highmark.>Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.>Avoid open slopes and convex rolls at and below treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.>
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 8th, 2016 2:00PM
