Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 14th, 2017 4:10PM

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

jmcbride, Avalanche Canada

Sea To Sky.

With snow expected to begin on Friday and continue into the weekend, watch for touchy wind slabs building in alpine, lee areas.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY: Cloudy, flurries. Accumulation up to 5 cm. Ridge wind light to moderate from the northwest. Temperature -1. Freezing level 800 m.SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, flurries. Accumulation 5 cm. Ridge wind light from the west. Temperature -3. Freezing level 800 m.SUNDAY: Cloudy, flurries. Accumulation 5-15 cm. Ridge wind moderate from the southwest. Temperature -2. Freezing level 800 m.

Avalanche Summary

There have been no reports of avalanche activity since the weekend when a small, natural, wind slab avalanche was observed in the alpine on a wind-loaded, north-facing, ridge top feature on Saturday in the Metal Dome area.

Snowpack Summary

A melt-freeze crust exists on the surface on all aspects. On north aspects this surface crust is thin with dry, sugary snow crystals (facets) below. Beneath the surface, the upper snowpack is well settled and overlies a thin layer of facets on the late-November rain crust. The most recent snowpack tests from last week have found hard, sudden compression test results on the facets just above the crust, which is now buried between approximatelyÂ 60 cm at treeline elevations. Beneath this crust the lower snowpack is well settled and consists of several crusts that formed in the early season.

Problems

Wind Slabs

The bond between the new snow and the old surface will be the big question once the storm snow starts to accumulate and be redistributed by winds.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 15th, 2017 2:00PM