Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 27th, 2015–Nov 28th, 2015

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

Northwest Coastal.

Unusually warm alpine temperatures may drive danger up.Thanks to everyone who has been submitting to the Mountain Information Network. Join the movement!

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

It is expected to remain dry through to Monday morning, with possible cloud in the valleys. A layer of warm air aloft is driving temperatures above zero at alpine elevations. The outlier is the NW corner of the region (north of Stewart), where the edge of a frontal system may bring 50 cm of snow this weekend, driving the local avalanche danger up rapidly.For more details check out avalanche.ca/weather

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been reported.

Snowpack Summary

So far, we only have limited information from the field. Initial reports suggest that there is around 150 cm at 2000 m. Recent outflow winds have created variable wind slabs and crusts. In some places, these may overlie crusts, surface hoar or facets.One report mentions a series of crusts and facets, with hard/ sudden planar results in snowpack tests. If I were traveling in the mountains, I'd maintain an investigative approach and dig down to test for weak layers before committing to a slope.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.