Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 21st, 2015 8:22AM

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

esharp, Avalanche Canada

Sea To Sky.

Wind slabs are forming at upper elevations. The lowest avalanche danger and best riding conditions can be found in sheltered terrain.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Weather Forecast

A weak storm is expected to hit the south coast on Tuesday afternoon bringing light snowfall with accumulations of up to 5cm by Wednesday morning. This is followed by a drying trend with only isolated flurries expected for the region through the rest of the forecast period. Winds will be light from the southwest and freezing levels are expected to remain at or close to valley bottom.

Avalanche Summary

Explosive avalanche control produced storm slab avalanches up to size 2 over the weekend. These mainly ran on mid storm instabilities although some failed on the old snow surface now down 50-70cm.

Snowpack Summary

Between 40 and 70 cm of new snow fell in the weekend's storms. Cool temperatures resulted in dry snow at all but the lower below tree-line elevations. The new snow is now settling and gaining strength although some mid storm instabilities are still showing up in snow pit tests. Wind slabs can be found in lee features on north to northeast aspects at tree-line and in the alpine. The December 8th crust is down about 120 cm and is reported to be well bonded to the snow above it.

Problems

Wind Slabs

The recent storm snow is settling. Moderate southwest through southeast winds will have loaded lee features at tree-line and in the alpine.

Choose well supported terrain without convexities.>Use terrain features such as ridges and ribs to avoid freshly wind loaded features.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Dec 22nd, 2015 2:00PM