Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 6th, 2015 7:29AM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is high, and the below treeline rating is high. Known problems include Storm Slabs.

Avalanche Canada ghelgeson, Avalanche Canada

New snow and wind Sunday night and Monday are expected to produce a natural avalanche cycle. Forecast warming Tuesday won't help matters. Only very cautious and conservative terrain choices are appropriate at this time.

Summary

Confidence

Low - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

A series of Pacific storms will continue to impact the Kootenay Boundary with the general theme being periods of heavy precipitation and strong winds interspersed with showery blustery conditions. A significant rise in freezing levels is possible with Tuesdays storm as mild sub-tropical air is drawn into the frey. SUNDAY NIGHT: Freezing Level 1500m, 2 to 15cm of snow, strong SW winds. MONDAY: Freezing level around 1500m, 4 to 25cm of snow, strong SW winds. TUESDAY: Freezing level forecast to rise to 2500m. 5 to 15mm of precipitation falling as rain below 2500m. Strong SW winds. WEDNESDAY: Freezing level lowering from 2500m to 1700m. 1 to 8cm of snow possible with strong SW winds.

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday natural storm slab avalanches to size 2 were reported on East, North, and Northwest facing features between 1900 and 2100m. These were likely running on the early December surface hoar. Late Sunday we received a report from the Rossland range where a group of skiers triggered a size 2.5 avalanche on a north facing piece of terrain at 1700m. The avalanche initially failed at the Mid-November crust before stepping down to the ground. Thankfully, it sounds like everyone involved will be okay.

Snowpack Summary

Snow depth in the region is between 100 and 160cm. In the last few days the successive storms have laid down 30 to 60cm of storm snow. This storm snow rests on a variety of old surface including loose faceted snow, the well advertised early-December surface hoar in sheltered locations at and below treeline, and a crust at upper elevations (especially on southerly aspects). The mid-November crust is just under the new storm snow and quite robust. It's been reported as being 1 to 8cm in thickness.  A human triggered avalanche Sunday ran on this crust and we suspect it's just starting to wake up.  The next few days should tell us a lot about this interface.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
Strong wind and heavy forecast snowfall Sunday night and Monday are expected to energize the storm slab problem. Storm slabs in motion may step down to the mid-November crust, or potentially deeper resulting in large destructive avalanches.
Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.>The areas we usually consider safe below treeline may be some of the most volatile right now, as this is where the surface hoar is best preserved.>Choose riding locations that offer lots of simple terrain options with no overhead hazard.>Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 5

Valid until: Dec 7th, 2015 2:00PM