Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 15th, 2013 8:09AM

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

jlammers, Avalanche Canada

Sea To Sky.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Monday: Light snowfall / Moderate westerly winds (with extreme gusts) / Freezing level at 800mTuesday: Light snowfall / Moderate southwesterly winds (with extreme gusts) / Freezing level at 800mWednesday: Possible clearing / Light winds / Freezing level at valley bottom

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches reported.

Snowpack Summary

Snowpack depths vary greatly across the region, but are significantly lower than average for this time of year. Terrain below treeline is still mostly below threshold for avalanche activity. Due to strong to extreme southwest winds on Sunday pockets of touchy windslab likely exist at upper elevations. Due to rising freezing levels, surfaces are reportedly moist below 1750m. Roughly 20-30cm of snow now overlies a variety of old surfaces which formed during the early December cold snap. These surfaces include: generally faceted surfaces (which may overlie a crust in some areas), spotty surface hoar in sheltered terrain and hard windslab on south-facing alpine terrain. Thin snowpack areas, particularly around rocks, are reported to be highly faceted.The lower snowpack is generally well consolidated.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Continued strong southwesterly winds and light snowfall will likely create small wind slabs in exposed high elevation terrain. Watch for triggering in gullies, behind ridge crests and over sharp rolls.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 16th, 2013 2:00PM