Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 17th, 2012–Nov 18th, 2012

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Glacier.

The Winter Permit System is NOT yet in effect but is scheduled to come into effect on Friday November 23. Click here for information on how to obtain annual and daily winter permits.

Weather Forecast

A frontal system arriving in the interior today expecting around 8mm of precipitation, rising freezing levels, light winds at treeline but strong SW winds in the alpine (50 to 80km/h). A second system follows in its wake on Sunday and into Monday.

Snowpack Summary

80cm to 110cm of snow in sheltered areas at tree line. The November crust is down 45cm. Wind slabs have been observed in the alpine and exposed areas at tree line over the past week.

Avalanche Summary

A size 2 loose natural avalanche observed in the highway corridor running 1/2 path on Mt Tupper.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Monday

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.