Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 25th, 2011 8:31AM

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

Avalanche Canada mpeter, Avalanche Canada

For more information about the early December surface hoar problem, check out the forecaster blog.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to variable snopack conditions

Weather Forecast

Monday: Expect mixed skies with a chance of flurries building later in the day. West winds with temperatures reaching -7. Tuesday &Wednesday: We should see a lull in the precip in the morning and then light flurries through the afternoon, evening and into Wednesday. Freezing levels will slowly rise from 1000-2000m under continued westerly winds.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches

Snowpack Summary

There is about 25-35cm of recent storm snow sitting over the December 12 interface of surface hoar and facets. This new snow has been deposited into soft slabs on lee features in open terrain by the consistent winds. The interface between the new snow and older surfaces is surface hoar and/or facets from early December. This layer is gaining strength, but still remains within the threshold of human triggering where there is sufficient load/slab properties. Check out the forecaster blog for more information on this layer and how to manage it. Lower in the snowpack, the mid-layers are well-consolidated and strong. Near the base of the snowpack there are a few layers that have the potential to trigger with very heavy loads or from shallow spots. These include a surface hoar layer from early November, a crust/facet combo from October and the interface on steep glaciated terrain with snow that did not melt over the summer.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Predominantly on North through East aspects, but some localized northerlies have brought windslabs into unusual places.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs
Slab avalanches continue to be a concern on the December surface hoar/facet interface in northern parts of this region.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 26th, 2011 8:00AM

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