Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 28th, 2017 8:00AM

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

percy woods, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Light snow fall today through Friday morning.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Light snow with accumulations up to 8cm today. Alpine high of -13C with light East winds. Another 4cm snow forecast to fall overnight. Light Easterly winds and a trace of snow tomorrow. Temps will remail cold. Flurries.Accumulation: 8 cm.Alpine temperature: High -13 °C. Ridge wind east: 10 km/h.Freezing level at valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

40cm+ of snow is slowly settling into a persistent slab which sits on the Dec 15 surface hoar. Currently the slab is stubborn to react or has yet to form. Windslab is prevalent in exposed areas above treeline. Solar aspects have a thin crust layer below the slab. Light snow overnight will have buried a thin layer of surface hoar, the Dec 27 layer.

Avalanche Summary

One size 1.5 ski cut surface slab off the west face of Cheops. This slide was observed on Dec 27th but suspect it happened in the Dec 24-25 time period. Expect lenses of thin windslab in the alpine and surface sluffing in steeper protected terrain.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Problems

Wind Slabs

Variable winds formed wind slab in the alpine and exposed areas at tree line on all aspects. These slabs may have surface hoar or crust underneath, small lenses may be sensitive to human triggering.

Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

40cm+ of snow is settling into a persistent slab which sits on the Dec 15 surface hoar. Expect the slab to possibly be reactive on steep unsupported and/or wind effected terrain. Solar aspects have a thin crust layer below the slab.

Watch for signs of slab formation, such as whumpfing and shooting cracks.Avoid convexities and unsupported features.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 29th, 2017 8:00AM