Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 17th, 2016 4:27PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
mbender,
Avalanche Canada
Expect the avalanche danger to rise over the next few days with increasing temperatures, snowfall and strong winds
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Sunday
Weather Forecast
Sunday: Flurries, accumulations 10-15cm / Moderate to strong southwest wind / Alpine temperature -7Monday: Snow, accumulations 20-30cm / Moderate to strong southwest wind / Alpine temperature -7Tuesday: Cloudy with flurries, accumulations 5-10cm / Moderate to strong wind / Alpine temperature of -6
Avalanche Summary
No significant new avalanche activity has been reported.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 10cm of new snow overlies the previous variable snow surface from late last week, which includes hard wind pressed or scoured areas, old wind slabs, weak faceted snow, or small surface hoar. The cold temperatures appear to be preserving the old (now buried) wind slabs from the end of last week and they still may be reactive to human triggering in isolated areas. Recent snowpack tests near Whistler gave hard but sudden results in faceted snow under the old hard wind slab. Moderate southwest winds over the weekend and more recent northerly winds have formed soft wind slabs in immediate leeward features. The widespread mid-November crust is typically down 1-2m in the snowpack. Recent snowpack and explosive tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could remain a problem in shallow alpine start zones.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Fresh soft and old hard winds slabs may be lurking on all aspects due to recent winds from a variety of directions. The recent storm snow may also have settled into a reactive slab on sun-exposed slopes.
On steep slopes, pull over periodically or cut into a new line to manage sluffing.Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 18th, 2016 2:00PM
