Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 14th, 2014 8:00AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

Parks Canada andrew jones, Parks Canada

Challenging ski conditions below treeline and a lingering storm slab in the alpine will require extra caution today.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A stationary high pressure system will block precipitation for the next several days, leaving us with colder temperatures and sunny periods. Winds are expected to remain light with freezing levels approaching 1000m.

Snowpack Summary

Cold temperatures have tightened up the surface snow forming a crust with moist snow underneath it to ~2100m. Above tree line there is up to ~25cm of recent storm storm snow. Recent snowpack tests produced resistant planar results within the top 50cm. November persistent weak layers are down 100 to 120cm, requiring large triggers to fail.

Avalanche Summary

Natural avalanche activity has decreased with the arrival of cold temperatures. No new avalanches were observed yesterday.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
Storm snow layers in the alpine are still suspect. The last storm cycle deposited ~25cm of heavy snow on an existing week layer in the upper snowpack. Some sunshine and the weight of a rider could be enough to trigger an avalanche.
The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs
This layer is still failing with big triggers. A cornice fall in steep terrain is capable of triggering this instability and causing a large avalanche. Watch your exposure to overhead hazard like cornices.
Cornices become weak with daytime heating.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Dec 15th, 2014 8:00AM