Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 15th, 2014–Dec 16th, 2014

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Little Yoho.

Although it is moderate by definition, steep alpine slopes should remain highly suspect.

Weather Forecast

Clear weather and temps around -10 persist. This will have little affect on the danger rating.

Snowpack Summary

In the alpine a few cm`s of new snow overlies widespread wind slabs created by recent strong SW winds. At treeline and above, mild temperatures have helped strengthened the upper snowpack but the basal rain crust/facets remain weak. Below treeline a rain crust is present and the moist snow is gaining strength rapidly with the cooler temps.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches were observed or reported in the forecast region today.

Confidence

Due to the quality of field observations

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.