Avalanche forecast

South Rockies

Dec 23 – 24, 2015Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

Danger ratings are coming down, but human triggered avalanches remain possible, especially on the steeper more complex lines.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–4
    Recent snow has formed touchy soft slabs and is also sluffing easily in steep terrain. This new snow may be hiding hard wind slabs on slopes lee to the SW.

Confidence

Low

Weather Forecast

We are heading into a short dry spell for Christmas, but the good news is we are not expecting much wind and we should see clearing skies Friday and Saturday. THURSDAY: 0 to 5cm of snow, freezing level at valley bottom, light SW winds. FRIDAY: No snow expected, freezing level at valley bottom, light west winds. SATURDAY: No new snow, freezing level at valley bottom, moderate W/SW winds.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches to report from Tuesday. On Sunday and Monday a few naturally triggered size 1 to 2.5 storm slabs and numerous loose dry avalanches were reported.

Snowpack Summary

The series of recent storms has left us with around 50-80 cm new snow. Strong to extreme SW winds in specific areas in the south of the region on Sunday created wind slabs at all elevations. These may now be buried by subsequent snowfall, making them hard to spot. Cornices exist on many ridge crests. Recent storm snow overlies a hard rain crust. This strong, thick crust seems to be effectively isolating the lower snowpack.

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