Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 7th, 2014 8:08AM

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

Avalanche Canada Peter, Avalanche Canada

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Northwest Inland.

Warmer air and precipitation will finally invade inland sections of the Northwest this week. Danger will rise as new storm and wind slabs form. 

Summary

Confidence

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Monday: Cloudy with light snow. The freezing level should start to climb and could reach 1000 m. Ridge winds increase to strong from the S-SE. Tuesday: Periods of rain or snow. The freezing level climbs to 1800-2000 m and winds increase to very strong or extreme from the S-SW. Wednesday: Cloudy with periods of snow or rain. The freezing level drops to 1500 m and very strong southerly winds continue.

Avalanche Summary

There are no new avalanche reports from the region. Please let us know what you're seeing out there. Email us at forecaster@avalanche.ca.

Snowpack Summary

Recent reports describe a shallow, highly variable, and wind affected snowpack with an average snow depth of 60 to 100 cm. A dusting of new snow may be covering a mix of surface hoar, sugary facets, wind slab, or a crust depending on elevation and aspect. In some places a crust might be buried 20-40 cm deep, while in wind-exposed areas it could still be on or near the surface. Deeper in the snowpack you may find another rain crust (with facets above and/or below) that formed earlier in the season. One observer in the Hankin area found these crusts down 30 and 40 cm with facets above and below. Snowpack tests showed easy or moderate "pops or drops" results on both layers respectively. 

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
Warm and wet conditions should result in the formation of a dense/moist storm slab. Very strong southerly winds may also create deep wind slabs in Northwest-Northeast facing terrain well below ridge crests.
Use ridges or ribs to avoid wind loaded and cross loaded slopes.>Choose well supported terrain without convexities.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Dec 8th, 2014 2:00PM

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