Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 2nd, 2014 8:20AM

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

triley, Avalanche Canada

Sea To Sky.

Windslabs continue to be a problem for human triggering in the alpine and at treeline where the changing winds have transported snow and scoured down to the icy crust.

Summary

Confidence

Poor - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Friday

Weather Forecast

Clear overnight with light winds and overnight alpine temperatures around -12. Clear on Wednesday with light winds and freezing levels rising up to about 1500 metres. Cloud developing during the day on Thursday. Increasing Southwest winds Thursday evening combined with snow. Cloudy with snow and strong Southerly winds on Friday.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches reported.

Snowpack Summary

Surface hoar and near surface facets are reported to be growing during the cold and clear weather. Strong Northeast outflow winds developed windslabs 10-40 cm deep since Friday, and then strong and variable winds have since loaded and reverse loaded the light dry snow that came at the end of the storm. Below this new snow is a solid weight bearing crust in all but the highest alpine slopes. There is a chance that a consolidated slab exists in some areas in the alpine above a deeply buried crust from earlier in November.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Changing winds and light snowfalls have combined to develop variable windslabs that may be found on any aspect. The winds have scoured some areas back to the crust that developed from the rain at the end of the last storm.

Avoid travelling in areas that have been reverse loaded by winds.>Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

A deep slab may be sitting on the old buried crust from early November. This slab may still be a concern at high elevations where the rain did not get up to the summits.

Choose well supported terrain without convexities.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Dec 3rd, 2014 2:00PM