Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 2nd, 2013–Dec 3rd, 2013

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Northwest Coastal.

Data is very limited from the region. Please send your field observations to [email protected].

Confidence

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Tonight and Tuesday: Clear and cold. Expect mountaintop temperatures to dip close to -20. Strong outflow winds (from the N-E) are forecast near coastal inlets and valleys.Outlook: Continued cold and clear weather should be the story all week. Alpine temperatures should hover between -10 and -20, and winds should remain moderate to strong from the North-Northeast.

Avalanche Summary

Recent observations near Shames include a couple large glide slab releases in steep terrain (up to size 3), and several natural size 1-2 storm or wind slabs from open terrain at treeline. Expect wind slabs to remain touchy and new ones to form on South and West aspects from forecast outflow winds.

Snowpack Summary

Around 40 cm of recent storm snow has fallen in some areas. This new snow may not be bonding well to the previous snow surface. Winds during the recent storms produced wind slabs on east and north east lee slopes at tree line and above. Expect some reverse loading this week as the outflow winds pick up, particularly near the coast. Rain at lower elevations saturated the lower snowpack below tree line, which should freeze pretty solid as temperatures plummet this week. Average snowpack depths near treeline are around100 cm.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

New wind slabs may form on South and West aspects at all elevations in response to strong outflow winds this week. It may also be possible to trigger older wind slabs on exposed North and East aspects near ridgetop.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Avoid travelling in areas that have been reverse loaded by winds.>Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 4