Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 27th, 2012 9:35AM

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

pgoddard, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Coastal.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain for the entire period

Weather Forecast

Friday: Moderate SW winds. Alpine temp around -6. Light snow. Saturday: Light to moderate NW winds. Freezing level at valley bottom. Very light snow.Sunday: Moderate SW winds. Freezing level at valley bottom. Light snow starting late in the day.

Avalanche Summary

A skier triggered a small hard wind slab on a steep north-facing roll near treeline on Tuesday. No avalanches have been reported since then.

Snowpack Summary

Light new snow is landing on variable surfaces including wind slabs and surface facets. Some alpine slopes are heavily scoured. Cornices are fragile. A layer of surface hoar buried in the upper metre of the pack has been observed in the Shames backcountry. The mid-pack is generally well settled. Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer sometimes gives hard, sudden 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

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs have formed in response to down-valley winds. These may be hard to spot where they are buried with new snow.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Travel on ridgetops to avoid wind slabs on slopes below.>Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.>

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Dec 28th, 2012 2:00PM