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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 16th, 2011–Dec 17th, 2011

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kootenay Boundary.

Confidence

Fair - Freezing levels are uncertain

Weather Forecast

Sat: No new snow expected. Freezing level around 1700 m, although a weak inversion may give warmer alpine temperatures. Moderate SW winds.Sun: Flurries early in the morning giving way to clear skies. Cooler alpine temperatures. Moderate to strong SW winds at ridgetop.Mon: Dry and warm with freezing levels rising to around 2000 m.

Avalanche Summary

There have been no recent reports of avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

Large surface hoar and faceted powder on sheltered shady slopes, and a surface crust on sun-exposed slopes, is now lightly buried in most locations. At present this near-surface layer poses little hazard except in very specific areas where wind slabs have developed above it. However, looking ahead, once this weak layer becomes buried by around 40 cm of sufficiently cohesive snow, a highly unstable situation will develop. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and strong, but faceted. Recent easy test results on basal facets and depth hoar necessitates caution on wind-exposed slopes with highly variable snowpack depths, where this deep persistent weakness could be triggered from a shallow spot. Check out the Forecaster's Blog link below for more general snowpack discussion and good advice.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.