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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 25th, 2022–Nov 26th, 2022

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 unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

St. Mary.

Welcome, it's our first day of forecasting! With Friday's snowfall and another round of weather arriving late Saturday the riding quality will improve right along with rising avalanche hazard. The best riding will also be where the avalanche hazard is highest so my suggestion is to keep slope angles moderate and sheltered from the wind.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported; but very few eyes are reporting from the field. Incoming storms will make avalanches more likely.

Snowpack Summary

Over the work week the east side of the Purcells received 5 to 15 cm of snow. By Monday when the unsettled weather ends, another 15 to 30 cm is expected to accumulate.

Below the recent snow are old cold layers including large surface hoar (10-30 mm), facets (sugary, weak) and even a sun crust on steep solar aspects.

In the alpine, snowpack depths range from 70-110 cm. At treeline, 40-80 cm. Below treeline averages 10-40 cm.

A variable and thin early-season snowpack with many early season hazards, like rocks and stumps.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

By Saturday morning I'm expecting storm totals of around 10 cm of new snow carried in on moderate southwest winds and warm (single digit below zero) temperatures. Snow holes may receive 15 or 20 cm from the storm.

Saturday

A quiet day between storms: lots of clouds, little if any snow, light wind from the NW, and cooler temperatures with treeline hitting around -7. Next storm arriving overnight.

Sunday

This storm should pack more punch than Friday's. Coming in from the NW with colder temperatures, stronger winds, and more snow (10 to 20 cm).

Monday

Increasingly clear, dry and colder as arctic air start to spill into the area.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Dial back your terrain choices if you are seeing more than 30 cm of new snow.
  • Start on smaller terrain features and gather information before committing to bigger terrain.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.