Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 19th, 2012 9:08AM

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

triley, Avalanche Canada

Purcells.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Thursday

Weather Forecast

Overnight and Thursday: Strong Southwest winds combined with a few cms of new snow overnight. Snow fall amounts are expected to increase during the day Thursday as winds continue to be strong and shift to the West.Friday: Continued westerly winds in the morning should shift to the Southeast in the wake of the last storm. Light flurries may linger for the morning without much accumulation.Saturday: Light East-Southeast winds and cooler temperatures, Alpine overnight temperatures near -15.0.

Avalanche Summary

Large explosives created avalanches to size 1.0 in the North of the region. Loose snow avalanches up to size 1.0 were reported across the region.

Snowpack Summary

Thin wind slabs continue to develop with each pulse of snow and wind. Most of the precipitation has been tracking along the U.S. border, so the southern parts of this region may have quite a bit more new snow than the North. Areas with sheltered terrain have been reporting no new shears in the recent storm snow. Unconsolidated snow with thin wind slabs in exposed terrain in the alpine and at treeline has been reported from most areas.

Problems

Wind Slabs

New strong Southwest winds combined with a couple of cms of snow overnight are expected to develop thin windslabs in the alpine and at treeline. These wind slabs may develop further during the day with continued precipitation.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Dec 20th, 2012 2:00PM