Avalanche forecast

South Rockies

Dec 31, 2014 – Jan 1, 2015Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 12 years ago

Avalanche danger

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

The Special Public Avalanche Warning has been extended. Stay cautious and be conservative in your terrain selection.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–4
    Between 15 and 30 cm of low-density snow has been transported by strong southwest winds into hard wind slabs. Initially winds blew from the SW and have now switched from the NW-NE, which means wind slabs are likely in unsuspecting places.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–4
    A crust formed in mid-December is buried near 70 cm down and should be on your radar. Not much is known about its distribution. Dig down and test weak layers and watch for this condition as you transition from treeline and above.

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

An above freezing layer has pushed into the Interior ranges and will persist through Thursday allowing for a strong alpine temperature inversion. Alpine temperatures will be near -5 and below treeline temperatures will be near -15. Ridgetop winds will be moderate from the north-northwest. Friday will bring change in the weather pattern. Confidence in model agreement is poor with precipitation and wind values, however; it looks like we could receive 5 mm, accompanied by moderate westerly winds.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30cm of low-density snow exists on the surface. In the alpine and at treeline, strong northerly winds have transported this snow into stiff and reactive wind slabs on opposite slopes. Up to 70 cm below the surface (more in wind affected areas) you may find a crust which formed in December. The crust, which may have surface hoar on top of it, may extend into the alpine to at least 2100 m. Where the crust exists, it may be bridging triggers from penetrating to deeper persistent weaknesses. However, on high alpine slopes above where the rain crust formed, or in areas where rain didn't occur, deeply buried facets may still be susceptible to triggering especially in thinner snowpack areas.

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