Avalanche forecast

South Coast

Dec 6 – 7, 2011Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Wind slabs may be lurking below ridge crests, behind terrain features, and in cross-loaded gullies.

Confidence

Fair - Due to limited field observationsfor the entire period

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: A chance of morning flurries, then clearing throughout the day. Freezing levels around 1200m and light to moderate northerly winds. Thursday and Friday: Clear with freezing levels reaching 2000m and light winds.

Avalanche Summary

One very recent size 2 slab was observed on Sunday on a north facing slope close to Keith's Hut in the Duffey Lake area. It appeared to be skier-triggered from the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

Surface hoar continues to grow and is getting really big below treeline. Low density surface snow is faceting on shady low elevation slopes and getting pretty crusty on sun-exposed treeline slopes. Total treeline snowpack depth is 150-180cm but wind-exposed areas are highly variable with scoured areas and deep drifts. Recent observations from wind scoured alpine slope in the Duffey Lake area include inconsistent hard sudden compression test results down 70cm on buried surface hoar, and just off the ground in facets. On a more sheltered westerly aspect moderate to hard sudden shears were observed down 40-50cm and 70cm on rounding facets. A lightly buried thick rain crust extends into treeline elevations.

Regions covered