Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 3rd, 2014 8:01AM

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

Avalanche Canada Peter, Avalanche Canada

Above freezing temperatures are possible near treeline on Thursday. This could make wind slabs more sensitive to triggering.

Summary

Confidence

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud with an above freezing layer developing somewhere around 1500 m. Friday: Increasing cloud with precipitation beginning during the day. Moderate accumulations are expected. The freezing level should rise to 1000m by Saturday morning. Winds increase to moderate or strong from the S-SE. Saturday: Continued light to moderate precip. The freezing level continues to climb and ridge winds remain strong.

Avalanche Summary

There are no new reports of natural or rider triggered avalanches. Please let us know what you're seeing out there. Email us at forecaster@avalanche.ca.

Snowpack Summary

Conditions vary significantly throughout the region, at different elevations, and on different aspects. The common theme is that the snowpack is generally shallow, quite facetted (sugary), and wind affected. In the past couple days we've seen 15-40 cm of low density snow fall. This snow buries a previous surface that was heavily wind affected, with possible pockets of surface. New dense wind slabs may be found on a variety of aspects in open terrain. The mid-November crust-facet layer is now 40-60 cm deep and continues to show easy to moderate shears in snowpack tests. Deeper in the snowpack, at 80 cm down there is another crust that is breaking down and becoming bonded to the surrounding snow.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Recent winds have created dense wind slabs on a variety of aspects in open terrain. These wind slabs could become more sensitive to rider triggering if temperatures warm on Thursday. 
Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Avoid travelling in areas that have been reverse loaded by winds.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Dec 4th, 2014 2:00PM