Avalanche forecast

South Rockies

Dec 15 – 16, 2014Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Danger ratings trending down due to low freezing levels after the recent rain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Wind slabs may continue to be triggered from human activity at high alpine elevations. Expect wind slabs to gradually increase their bond to the old surface.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2–4
    High alpine terrain that did not get rain during the last storm may continue to have a storm slab above a deeply buried crust that could act as a smooth sliding layer.

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Mainly sunny and dry for the forecast period. Freezing levels will remain in valley bottoms with alpine temperatures reaching -5C and light to moderate westerly alpine winds.

Avalanche Summary

No new reports of avalanches from the region on Sunday or Monday morning.

Snowpack Summary

Surface hoar is likely growing on a thick hard supportive near-surface rain crust that extends as high as 2100 m, with as much as 15cm of fresh snow on it. Last week's rain and subsequent freezing temperatures has effectively stabilized the snowpack at all but the highest elevations. However, in high alpine areas that did not get rain during the recent storm, there may be a buried persistent weak layer of crust and/or facets that is now down between 70-100 cm. This buried crust from November may continue to be triggered by large additional loads. Pockets of fresh wind slab may also be triggered at or near ridgetops in areas where the snow was dry enough to be transported by the strong Southwest winds during the storm.

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