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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 9th, 2012–Dec 10th, 2012

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Little Yoho.

Strong wind in the alpine is creating slabs in lee areas. Carefully consider the consequences of traveling in these areas tomorrow (Monday).

Weather Forecast

Warming temperatures combined with a clearing trend should provide an opportunity for the danger rating to drop back down to  moderate by the end of the day on Monday.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack is surprisingly well settled for early December. Expect to find approx 15cm of low density snow sitting on top of of a well settled mid-pack, all of which is sitting on top of the Nov 6 crust 20-40cm above the ground. Snowpack tests today showed irregular results in the hard range on the Nov 6 crust in our Bow Summit study plot. 

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity observed or reported today. However, there have been reports and observations of avalanches up to size 3 throughout the forecast region in the past 4 days. It is suspected that many of these large avalanche released on the Nov 6th crust.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

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.