Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 16th, 2012–Dec 17th, 2012

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Glacier.

We've been enjoying excellent early season conditions. Regardless, maintain safe travel practices; choose safe re-group locations, don't expose multiple people at a time, plan your escape routes and identify safe zones before committing to your line.

Weather Forecast

Scattered flurries, with less than 5cm of new snow, light-moderate SW winds, alpine temps of -10 and a chance of sunny periods, are expected today. A low pressure system will move over the region on Monday. Moderate to strong S to W winds and 10-15cm of snow is expected by the end of the day. On Tuesday, building high pressure will bring more sun.

Snowpack Summary

In the alpine and at treeline 40-50cm of loose storm snow overlies a well settled snowpack. Tests show that the interface beneath the storm snow may be triggerable by a skier but is resistant to move (RP). The Nov28 surface hoar down 80cm is hard to find and where it exists is breaking down. The early Nov crust down 1.5m would be hard to trigger.

Avalanche Summary

With no new snow and light winds yesterday, no new avalanches were observed. On Friday, avalanche technicians traveling in the Illecillewaet and Asulkan drainages observed no new avalanches, nor did they experience any sluffing while skiing steep S and W facing slopes.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Isolated windslabs and windloaded pockets have been buried in the immediate lees of ridgecrests. They are more likely in places where even a small avalanche would have high consequences; steep, complex terrain.

Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.Enter your line well below ridge crests to avoid wind loaded pillows.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2