Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 12th, 2012 9:16AM

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

pgoddard, Avalanche Canada

South Rockies.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to variable snowpack conditions

Weather Forecast

Thursday: Moderate to strong NW to W winds. Alpine temp -9. No snow.Friday: Moderate to strong NW winds. Alpine temp -8. Light snow.Saturday: Light SW winds. Alpine temp -15. Light snow.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous size 1 sluffs and shallow natural wind slabs were observed on Sunday in the southern Elk Valley. On Monday, touchy small soft slabs were observed in the immediate lee of ridge crests.

Snowpack Summary

Recent dry snow has been transported by strong NW to W winds, creating wind slabs in some lee areas. Â Below this, the snowpack is reported to be well-settled. Below about 1400 m (or as high as 1800 m on some slopes), snowpack depth is below threshold for avalanches. Cornices have grown large in some areas.You may find a couple of layers of interest: A buried rain crust fizzles out at about 1800 m. A localized layer of surface hoar buried about 1 m down may still exist in sheltered pockets. At the base of the snowpack, a variable early November crust/facet layer exists. Recently, snowpack tests have shown hard results on this layer and no deep releases have been observed. It will remain in the back of our minds as a possible failure layer from thin snowpack trigger spots, or with very heavy snow loading or cornice fall.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs may be found on alpine slopes and behind ridges and ribs at treeline.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>Be aware of thin areas that may propagate to deeper instabilites.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Dec 13th, 2012 2:00PM