Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 24th, 2015–Nov 25th, 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

Cariboos.

This forecast is based off a pretty meager set of observations. If you're out, please let us know what you're seeing via the Mountain Information Network. MIN

Weather Forecast

Arctic air slides down from the north resulting in clear skies and cooler than average temperatures Wednesday and Thursday. Strong northerly winds at ridgetop are expected to continue through Wednesday afternoon, and then back off to more moderate speeds Thursday. By Friday winds should diminish to light values. We may see above freezing temperatures in the alpine beginning Friday morning, time will tell what the extent of this will be. No significant precipitation/snowfall expected for the forecast period. For a more detailed mountain weather forecast visit avalanche.ca/weather

Avalanche Summary

We're working with very limited observations at the moment and we have not received any reports of recent avalanche activity.

Snowpack Summary

Monday's storm snow fell on a variety of old surfaces including crust, surface hoar and old settled snow. Arctic air moving into the region has resulted in northerly winds which have formed small wind slabs on south facing features near ridge top. Warm temps and strong solar input formed a crust on south facing features which can be found underneath Monday's storm snow. There are at least three surface hoar layers in the snowpack buried on: Nov. 5th, Nov. 11th and Nov. 23rd. The first two have been largely unreactive. Facets may exist just above the ground on shaded slopes in the alpine.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.