Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 12th, 2011 8:51AM

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

Avalanche Canada mpeter, Avalanche Canada

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Tuesday & Wednesday: A weak ridge is giving a couple more dry days. Expect light westerly winds and daytime highs of -5 under clear skies or high cloud. Thursday: Clouds are likely to develop in the morning with a chance of light flurries throughout the day. Continued westerly winds with daytime temperatures climbing to -5.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

Around 3cm of new snow has fallen in the past couple of days. This overlies surface hoar (as large as 10mm in protected areas), surface facets, the odd old windslab and sun crusts (on steep south through west aspects). The new snow has fallen with limited winds effect. All of these newly buried surfaces are good sliding interfaces; all that's lacking is a large enough load. As more snow arrives and/or the wind picks up (as per the forecast) the avalanche danger will increase. Due to the slow, incremental increase in load (dribs and drabs of new snow and sporadic winds), this increase in danger is difficult to pinpoint and could be very site specific. Snow depths are quite variable through the region with 130-150cm in the alpine. There is still concern for triggering the weak basal facets/depth hoar, as these layers have shown sudden collapse results in stability test in shallow areas.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Stiff wind slabs in the alpine and open areas at treeline may still be triggered by skiers and riders.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs
The weak facetted layer near the ground may still be triggered by human activity with the common trigger points being convexities, rocks or clumps of small trees.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 5

Valid until: Dec 13th, 2011 8:00AM

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