Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 28th, 2015 8:00AM

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

mark herbison, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Hola El Nino!?Cool and dry will be the theme for the foreseeable future.

Summary

Weather Forecast

An Arctic high pressure system will dominate the provinces weather over the next few days as it slowly moves south from the Yukon. The high pressure will bring dry cool conditions with light winds and sunny periods. Alpine high of -10.

Snowpack Summary

50cm of storm snow is settling out and sits over a well settled mid pack. Dec 2nd surface hoar layer is spotty in distribution but reacting suddenly on tests in the hard range. Moderate south winds within the past 72hrs formed soft to very soft wind slab on the immediate lee of alpine features.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous size 1.5 soft slabs have been observed along the highway corridor out of steep extreme terrain.Skiers reporting small sz 1 pockets of soft slab along and below ridge crest in the alpine.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Problems

Wind Slabs

Periods of moderate south through south-west winds have formed soft to very soft slabs along the immediate lee of alpine features.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Dry

Loose dry snow sluffs can be expected in very steep terrain. This could be an issue in steep gullies and terrain traps.

Be aware of party members below you that may be exposed to your sluffs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 29th, 2015 8:00AM