Avalanche forecast

South Rockies

Dec 13 – 14, 2012Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–4
    Wind slabs may be found on alpine slopes and behind ridges and ribs at treeline.

Confidence

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain on Saturday

Weather Forecast

Friday: Moderate NW winds. Alpine temp -8. Very light snow.Saturday: Strong SW winds. Alpine temp -7. Light snow. Sunday: Light SW winds. Alpine temp -12. Light snow.

Avalanche Summary

There have been no avalanches reported in the last couple of days.

Snowpack Summary

Wind slabs exist on slopes lee to the west. Below these surface layers, the snowpack is reported to be generally well-settled. Snowpack depth is below threshold for avalanches below about 1400 m (or as high as 1800 m on some slopes). Cornices have grown large in some areas.We are still watching a few layers, but recent snowpack tests have suggested that these are generally fairly well bonded. There is a buried rain crust in the upper snowpack which fizzles out at about 1800 m. A localized layer of surface hoar buried about 1 m down may still exist in sheltered pockets. At the base of the snowpack, a variable early November crust/facet layer exists. Any of these layers could become reactive with heavy loading, or if triggered from a thin snowpack area.

Regions covered