Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 12th, 2011 9:28AM

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

swerner, Avalanche Canada

Sea To Sky.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Thursday

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: Cloudy with a chance of flurries. Ridgetop winds light-moderate from the northwest. Treeline temperatures near -6 with freezing levels at valley bottom. Wednesday/Thursday: Moderate snowfall amounts expected. Winds switching to moderate north westerlies.

Avalanche Summary

There have been no recent avalanches reported.

Snowpack Summary

The snow surface is wind hammered in windward and exposed areas, a strong melt-freeze crust on solar aspects, and dry faceted powder with large surface hoar on shady sheltered slopes. A thick rain crust is down 20-40cm and extends up to treeline elevations. The midpack consists of recently settled snow where the weak interfaces have gained strength. Down 100-200cm are two more crusts combined with a mixture of surface hoar. The base of the snowpack consists of mixed forms (rounding facets/rounding depth hoar) with an associated crust are prevalent, and have been especially problematic where it is overlying summer firn.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

The likelihood of triggering a large avalanche is low, but it still makes sense to keep the deep weaknesses on your radar. The greatest concern is on steep, unsupported slopes with variable snowpack depths above 1900m.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

2 - 5

Valid until: Dec 13th, 2011 8:00AM