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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 4th, 2012–Dec 5th, 2012

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

Regions

Sea To Sky.

Confidence

Fair - Due to limited field observations for the entire period

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: Moderate snowfall in the morning and afternoon 5-10cm of accumulation for the day, freezing levels around 700m, and strong southwesterly mountaintop winds. Thursday: Moderate snowfall with 10-20cm of accumulation, freezing levels around 700m, and strong southwesterly winds becoming moderate westerlies. Friday: Light snowfall with a couple of centimeters of accumulation, freezing levels around 600m and moderate westerly winds.

Avalanche Summary

Reports from the Whistler area on Monday include numerous explosive-triggered and ski cut 20-100cm deep Size 1.0-2.0 storm slab and wind slab avalanches on northwest through east facing treeline and alpine slopes. One 50-150cm deep Size 2 slab avalanche may have stepped-down to the early November deep persistent weakness.

Snowpack Summary

Treeline and alpine areas have received well over a metre of new snow since late last week with weaknesses lingering within and under this storm snow. Of particular note was preserved 8mm surface hoar found on a sheltered open slope just below treeline, which gave moderate but energetic sudden collapse results in repeated compression tests. The mid-pack seems to be fairly settled, strong, and possibly bridging instabilities that may exist deeper. However, snowpack tests continue to produce  occasional hard but sudden results on the early November facet/crust combination down as deep as 200cm on leeward slopes. Furthermore, favorable slab structure for step-down fractures can contribute to the persistence of this deep weakness.

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.

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.