Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 3rd, 2017 4:32PM

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

shorton, Avalanche Canada

Purcells.

Expect wind slabs on a range of aspects as the wind shifts direction this week.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, moderate northwest wind, alpine temperatures around -12 C.TUESDAY: Mostly sunny, light wind, alpine temperatures warming to -7 C.WEDNESDAY: Sunny, light wind, inversion forming with alpine temperatures possibly reaching above 0 C.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche reports over the weekend were limited to size 1 wind slabs triggered by explosives near ridge crests. There are no recent reports of natural or human triggered avalanches, but observations are limited. Please continue to submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Snowpack Summary

Snow from last week's storms is settling and getting redistributed by westerly winds. Roughly 20-40 cm of recent snow sits above various crusts from the warm weather in late November. Two deeper layers may be found in the snowpack, including the November 10 surface hoar and the Halloween crust (80 to 100 cm deep). The late November crust is the most likely of these layers to develop into a problem in the near future. Snow depths decrease rapidly below treeline, where the primary hazards are rocks, stumps, and open creeks.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs are most likely on the downwind side of ridges and gullies. Changes in wind direction may form fresh wind slabs this week.

Travel on ridgetops to avoid wind slabs on slopes below.Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 4th, 2017 2:00PM