Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 20th, 2013 7:53AM

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

Avalanche Canada jfloyer, Avalanche Canada

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

The weekend looks mostly dry, then a warm storm bringing light to moderate precipitation arrives on Monday.Saturday and Sunday: Flurries possible with little accumulation. Winds Moderate NW'ly at ridgetop. Treeline temperatures around -5C.Monday: A weak storm is expected to arrive late in the day bringing around 5-10 mm preciptation. There will be some warming, but freezing levels in this region look as though they will stay below 1200 m. Strong SW winds are expected.

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been reported.

Snowpack Summary

Snowpack depths vary greatly across the region with 130cm reported at treeline in the Northern Cascades but only 50 cm along the Duffy. In general, the snowpack across the region is significantly thinner than average for this time of year. Terrain below treeline is still mostly below threshold for avalanche activity.15-20 cm new snow now sits on a generally well consolidated snowpack. Previous weak interfaces within the snowpack appear generally well bonded and have been unreactive to recent snowpack tests. In the alpine, strong S and SW winds have redistributed the recent storm snow creating wind slabs in leeward features and wind scoring on windward slopes.Early season riding hazards such as rocks, stumps and logs are lurking below the surface at treeline elevations and below.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
New snow and strong ridgetop winds continue to create mostly isolated wind slabs in the lee of ridges and terrain breaks.
Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Dec 21st, 2013 2:00PM