Avalanche forecast

South Rockies

Dec 25 – 26, 2014Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 12 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

This forecast is based off a pretty lean set of observations. Please jump on the Mountain Information Network and let us know what you're seeing. Thanks!

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Watch for stiffening wind slabs in wind exposed terrain at and above treeline. Wind slab avalanches in motion could step down to the mid December crust creating large avalanches.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–4
    New snow from the previous week is coalescing into a slab that rests on a stout crust. In some places a very weak layer of surface hoar may rest between the crust and the slab which is a prime setup for human triggered avalanches.

Confidence

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Synopsis: The storm to strong cold ridge pattern seems to be stuck on repeat. Looks high and dry as yet another ridge of high pressure takes over provincial weather for the foreseeable future.Friday: Freezing Level: Valley Bottom; Precipitation: Nil; Treeline: Light, Var. | Ridgetop: Moderate, NWSaturday: Freezing Level: Valley Bottom; Precipitation: Trace; Wind: Treeline: Moderate, W/SW | Ridgetop: Strong, NWSunday: Freezing Level: Valley Bottom; Precipitation: 1-3mm | 1-4cm; Wind: Treeline: Moderate NE | Ridgetop: Moderate, NE

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity to report, but in the neighboring Lizard Range avalanches continue to be human triggered to size 2. If you have any avalanche observations to report, please send an email to [email protected].

Snowpack Summary

Prior to Tuesday nights 15 - 20 cm, generally light amounts of snow have fallen in the last few days. In the alpine, winds have been conducive to blowing this snow into wind slabs in exposed lee areas. 30 - 60 cm below the surface (more in wind affected areas) you are likely to find a crust that may have surface hoar on top of it. The crust is reported to extend into the alpine to at least 2100 m; the surface hoar was reported to be most reactive on shady aspects around treeline and just below, between around 1600 m and 1900 m. Where the crust exists, it is effectively bridging triggers from penetrating to deeper persistent weaknesses that formed earlier in the season. However, on high alpine slopes above where the rain crust formed, facets, and/or buried surface hoar may be susceptible to triggers.

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