Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 8th, 2015 7:50AM

The alpine rating is below threshold, the treeline rating is below threshold, and the below treeline rating is below threshold. Known problems include Storm Slabs.

Avalanche Canada ccampbell, Avalanche Canada

Avalanche danger is expected to decrease as things dry out and cool off.

Summary

Confidence

Low - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Wednesday:  Cloudy with periods of wet snow or rain in the morning with freezing levels around 2000m, but becoming snow in the afternoon (5-10cm) as freezing levels drop to 1600m. Strong southwesterly ridgetop winds. Thursday: Increasing cloud with light snow flurries in the afternoon, freezing levels near valley bottoms and moderate southwesterly ridgetop winds. Friday: Cloudy with possible sunny breaks and a chance of flurries. Freezing levels near valley bottoms and moderate southwesterly ridgetop winds.

Avalanche Summary

Reports from Monday are limited, but include an isolated explosive-triggered Size 1 wind slab avalanche.

Snowpack Summary

Continued snowfall brings total treeline snowpack depths to around a metre, with even more in the alpine, but it diminishes quickly below treeline.  Recent storm and wind slabs are bonding poorly to old snow surfaces including crusts, and/or a combination of facets and buried surface hoar. The early December surface is likely a crust down around 30-50cm. Below that a thick layer of facets is probably bonding poorly to the thick mid-November crust. We're receiving very little information from the region, so please consider sharing your observations via the Mountain Information Network.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
Recent storm snow is bonding poorly to the previous snow surface and is expected to be particularly deep and touchy on leeward side of ridgecrests and terrain features.
Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.>Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Dec 9th, 2015 2:00PM