Avalanche forecast

South Rockies

Dec 10 – 11, 2014Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

This bulletin was published using very limited field data. You can help by using the new Mountain Information Network. For more info, check out this blog post: http://www.avalanche.ca/blogs/VIYBuScAAJdbdqPz/m-i-n-intro

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–5
    Warm temperatures and the load from rain may spark renewed destructive avalanche activity on weak layers near the base of the snowpack. These weak layers may surprise with nasty consequences.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Warming may trigger loose wet avalanche activity, especially in areas where loose snow overrides a hard crust.

Confidence

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

The sub-tropical storm cycle will continue through Thursday bringing another round of light precipitation, strong southwest winds and freezing levels at about 2500m. As the system moves east on Friday there may be lingering light snowfall, light southwest winds and freezing levels at about 1800m. By Saturday a dry ridge should develop bringing clearing skies, light northwest winds and freezing levels at about 1200m.

Avalanche Summary

Loose wet avalanches to size 1.5 were observed on Wednesday in the Elk Valley North area between 1600 and 2000m.

Snowpack Summary

Recent warming suggests snow surfaces are likely moist or wet at most elevations. There is at least one, maybe more, problematic layers in the mid and lower snowpack. About 90cm of settled snow overlies a weak layer of facets and crusts which formed during November's dry spell. Not much is known about the reactivity of this layer, nor the slab above it, but I'd assume it exists in most alpine terrain.

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