Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 15th, 2019 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
MBender,
Avalanche Canada
20 - 30 cm of recent storm snow sits on a weak layer which teeters on the brink of becoming a touchy storm slab problem.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Uncertainty is due to field data and reports showing a wide variation in conditions throughout the region.
Weather Forecast
SUNDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with clear periods, light to moderate northwest wind, alpine high temperature -10 C.
MONDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5-10 cm, moderate southwest wind, alpine high temperature -9 C.
TUESDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5-15 cm, moderate southwest wind, alpine high temperature -4 C.
WEDNESDAY: Scattered flurries, moderate south wind, alpine high temperature -5 C.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity to report from Friday and Saturday.
Reports from Thursday included sloughing and loose dry size 1 avalanches in the storm snow, as well as a persistent slab avalanche triggered remotely by a helicopter. It is important to keep in mind the potential for large, persistent slab avalanches.
Snowpack Summary
15-30 cm of new snow has covered a layer of feathery surface hoar crystals that were observed at all elevations throughout the region. The new snow can be expected to gain cohesion and slowly settle into a slab especially at treeline and below.
The primary layers of concern at this time are a couple of weak layers in the mid snowpack, formed in late November and early December which can be found most notably at treeline, and may present as surface hoar, a crust, facets or a combination, depending on elevation and aspect.
Problems
Storm Slabs
20 to 30 cm of recent storm snow rests on a widespread layer of large surface hoar. The storm snow is teetering on the edge of becoming a potentially touchy slab problem, but it hasn't happened yet. Places where thicker snow deposits exist on top of this layer due to wind loading, may be likeliest areas to trigger.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
A couple of weak layers formed in late November and early December are now sitting about 1 m below the surface.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 16th, 2019 5:00PM
