Weak layers causing unstable snowpack
Posted December 21, 2013 8:26 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Avalanche forecasters are concerned about this season’s snowpack.
Their concerns follow the recent cold weather and snowfall we’ve had, which has created persistent weak layers on the mountains.
“Things get buried and they get insulated. The ground is kind of a constant temperature during the winter, what can happen is you get get a pile of warm, heavy snow on top of this cold, brittle snow and unless we get some rain or prolonged warming period that warms the snow pack it can be an issue for the rest of the season,” explains Whistler reporter Andrew Mitchell.
He suggests digging a deep pit to see where the fracture lines are and what areas are weak. “Temperatures dropped into the low minus 20, minus 15 range. When that happens the snowpack sort of dries out and the bonding between the ice crystals kind of breaks down. So what you have is this dusty, dry, weak, brittle layer.”
You are advised to check the mountains before heading out and you can get the latest ski and snowboard conditions around BC here.
