Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 15th, 2014 8:33AM

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

ccampbell, Avalanche Canada

Kootenay Boundary.

Danger ratings trending down due to low freezing levels after the recent rain.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

A mix of sun and cloud with a slight possibility of light flurries for the forecast period. freezing levels will remain in valley bottoms with alpine temperatures reaching -5C. Alpine winds should remain light southerlies.

Avalanche Summary

There we no new reports of avalanches on Sunday or Monday morning.

Snowpack Summary

Surface hoar is growing on a thick hard supportive rain crust that extends as high as 2100 m. Sun-exposed slopes are undergoing daily surface melt-freeze cycles, while shady slopes have a skiff of dry snow on the crust. Critical slopes are high elevation north aspects where preserved facets or buried surface hoar from earlier in the month may be lurking under dense storm slabs, and a facet/crust combination near the base of the snowpack may be persisting. Recent snowpack tests gave easy sudden planer results on well preserved surface hoar in the Southern Purcells where it was found down 30 cm on high north aspects.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Pockets of windslab may be lurking above the rain line from the last storm. They are especially sensitive to triggers and where overlying surface hoar and other persistent weakness form earlier in the month.

Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.>Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Dec 16th, 2014 2:00PM