Avalanche forecast

South Columbia

Dec 28 – 29, 2013Avalanche Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 13 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map

Highlights

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Recent westerly winds have created windslabs in the lee of terrain features.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    3–5
    Several persistent weaknesses exist in the mid-snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

A few slab and loose avalanches to size 1.5 have been reported in the last 2 days. These are isolated to the most recent storm snow.

Confidence

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Monday

Weather Forecast

Sunday: Another series of weather systems starts to affect the interior. Light snowfall, alpine temperatures -6, winds light to moderate from the northwest.Monday: Light to moderate snowfall, Alpine temperatures -5, freezing level at 1200m, winds light west.Tuesday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Alpine temperatures -5 and freezing level at 1200m.

Snowpack Summary

Recent Moderate to strong west and southwesterly winds have built new wind slabs in alpine and treeline lees. 30-50 cm of storm snow sits on a weak layer consisting of surface hoar crystals, stellar crystals and/or crust. Around 60-90 cm below the snow surface, the early December surface hoar, facetted snow, and/or a crust interface sits and has been reportedly more stubborn to rider triggers. The late-November persistent weak layer consists of a sun crust on steep south facing slopes and surface hoar in sheltered areas. It is now buried 80-110cm below the surface. Snowpack tests vary on this interface with some results producing "sudden" shears and others producing no results. This interface is generally considered to be dormant. However, professional operators are keeping a close eye on it.A weak layer of facets sitting on a crust that formed in October, sits near the base of the snowpack. This layer is predominantly found on north-facing alpine slopes with smooth ground cover. Triggering this weakness is unlikely, however if triggered the resulting avalanche would potentially be a large event with high consequences.

Regions covered