Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 12th, 2015 4:00PM
The alpine rating is Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeThe great skiing continues...but make sure you stop, dig down and test for the Dec 3 surface hoar layer that is present below 2000m in many locations. There is just enough of a slab on this layer to create a hazard in steep open terrain.
Summary
Weather Forecast
We expect to see a few cm's of snow and increasing SW winds on Saturday night and into Sunday. Temperatures will be slightly warmer ranging from -2 to -10'C.
Snowpack Summary
In sheltered terrain below 2000m, a 30-40 cm soft slab sits over the December 3rd surface hoar. This layer continues to produce whumphs and easy shears in many locations, especially in areas near the divide with more snow. No other significant shears have been observed. In the alpine isolated wind slabs exist in immediate lee areas.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed today in our forecast area. Ski cutting produced some small slabs on the Dec 3 SH in steep terrain below tree line near Bow Summit. Kananaskis Country reported one size 2.5 natural avalanche out of steep wind loaded alpine terrain in the Hero's Knob area.
Confidence
Problems
Persistent Slabs
A 30-40cm soft slab sits over the Dec 3 surface hoar in many sheltered locations below 2000m. Continue to treat all steep open slopes below tree line with suspicion until you can rule out this weak layer.
- Avoid open slopes and convex rolls at and below treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
With increasing winds Saturday night, continue to watch for wind slabs in typically suspicious areas: leeward and cross loaded slopes or slopes near ridge crests.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 13th, 2015 4:00PM