Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 29th, 2012 9:29AM

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

Avalanche Canada slemieux, Avalanche Canada

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Saturday night and Sunday: An upper ridge remains over the coast bringing dryer conditions and light to moderate NW winds until a front reaches the coast in the evening Sunday. Monday: The weak front is expected to bring light precipitation and possibly moderate amounts in the Northern part of the region with moderate to strong winds from the S. Freezing levels are expected to rise to 400 m. and temperatures to warm up slightly with the arrival of the front. Tuesday: Temperatures around -4 C, no precipitation, light SE winds. 

Avalanche Summary

A few small storm slabs were triggered on lee aspects (NW) in the Bear pass area. Also, there has been report of multiple small loose natural avalanches in steep rocky terrain around Terrace.

Snowpack Summary

A few cm of snow fell since yesterday's 20-30 cm of recent storm snow. The storm snow which fell with light to moderate winds from the SE formed new windslabs on lee side of ridges in the alpine and at treeline. The mid-pack is generally well settled. Note that a layer of surface hoar buried in the upper meter of the pack has been observed in the Shames backcountry.  In sheltered areas and below treeline, 40 cm of low density snow overlies a stiffer base. Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer continues to give hard, sudden results to no results in snowpack tests. This weakness is unlikely to be triggered by a single person, but it remains possible with a very heavy load (e.g. cornice fall) or from a thin-spot trigger point.

Problems

Loose Dry

An icon showing Loose Dry
Loose dry avalanches may still be easily triggered on steep terrain.
Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Pockets of windslab were formed by recent SE winds on lee side of ridges.  Some older windslabs formed by the strong NE outflow winds may also be hard to observe as they could be buried by the new snow in sheltered areas.
Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.>Travel on ridgetops to avoid wind slabs on slopes below.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Dec 30th, 2012 2:00PM