Avalanche forecast

South Columbia

Dec 9 – 10, 2016Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Continued cold weather with little new snow expected. Watch for pockets of wind slab at higher elevations.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Changing wind directions may develop new wind slabs on various aspects at higher elevations over the next few days. Wind slabs are expected to continue to be reactive to light additional loads in isolated terrain features.

Confidence

Moderate - Wind effect is extremely variable

Weather Forecast

Overcast with light to moderate southwest winds and 3-5 cm of new snow overnight. Light snow combined with moderate northwest winds on Saturday. Another 3-5 cm on Sunday as the winds become more westerly. Clear and cold on Monday as the arctic air strengthens after the weekend weather moves to the east.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches reported from this region.

Snowpack Summary

The recent storm snow is settling slowly due to the cold temperatures. Variable wind effect has created wind slabs in the alpine in some areas, and others report little or no wind resulting in loose unconsolidated snow. The depth of the mid-november crust is also variable across the region. Reports have the crust down between 100-200 cm and snowpack tests have produced a wide array of results from moderate sudden planar to hard resistant planar, and in some cases no result. Watch for near surface facets developing in the upper snowpack that may develop a poor bonding layer before the next storm. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets developing above and/or below that may provide a weak layer above a smooth sliding surface in the future.

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