Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 30th, 2016 4:19PM

The alpine rating is below threshold, the treeline rating is below threshold, and the below treeline rating is below threshold. Known problems include Storm Slabs.

Avalanche Canada cgarritty, Avalanche Canada

A fresh dusting of snow is covering touchy storm slabs. Evaluate every slope carefully before committing to your uphill or downhill line.

Summary

Confidence

-

Weather Forecast

THURSDAY: A trace of new snow, light westerly wind, freezing level to 800 metres. FRIDAY: 5-15cm cm of new snow, strong southwest winds, freezing levels climbing as high as 1700m. SATURDAY: 5cm of new snow, moderate west winds shifting to southwest, freezing levels dropping to 500m.

Avalanche Summary

Although observations in the region have been limited, recent reports included a size 1.5 skier triggered 15-20cm thick wind slab in the alpine on Mt. Joffre. A thin but wide propagation and long runout were noted. Limited reports do not indicate a lack of avalanche hazard! Please post your observations to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

A light snowfall overnight has has in some parts of the region covered a layer of 15mm surface hoar that existed on the snow surface on Tuesday. Treeline snowpack depths are around 140cm in the Duffey Lake area, but closer to 60cm in Coquihalla Pass. Slopes that were loaded by southwest winds during recent storms have developed deep pockets of touchy wind slab. A layer of 3-5mm surface hoar has been observed at approximately 60cm below the surface in the Pemberton area and has produced easy snowpack test results. A thick crust can be found in the mid-pack down roughly 70-100cm at treeline elevations or deeper in the alpine. Moist snow exists in the bottom 50cm of the snowpack.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
Although settling and strengthening rapidly, storm slabs remain touchy. Watch for particularly deep and weak wind slabs on the downwind side of ridge crests and in exposed terrain.
Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 1st, 2016 2:00PM

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