Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 26th, 2019 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Parks Canada lisa paulson, Parks Canada

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The main avalanche concern for the next few days is a lingering wind slabs formed over the weekend. Natural avalanche activity on this problem has subsided, but the likelihood of human triggered wind slab is still possible.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A predominant North West flow has moved into the forecast region. 

Wednesday temperatures drop to -20 for the daytime lows, isolated light flurries along the Eastern part of the region, winds light from the NE.

Temperatures will gradually warm up and skies will clear later in the week.

Snowpack Summary

Colder temperatures have started to penetrate the snowpack. The older wind slabs from the strong SW winds on the weekend are visible and less reactive. The Nov 8 crust is down 20-30 cm and present up to ~2400 m. The lower snowpack is a mix of weak facets & Oct crusts. Snowpack depths at treeline range from 60-90 cm with up to 140 cm in lee areas.

Avalanche Summary

Although the wind slabs from last weekend have become less reactive, ski cuts and explosive work today triggered slabs up to size 1.5, 20-30 cm thick. No new natural avalanches in past few days.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Wind slabs formed over the weekend still linger in the alpine and on isolated wind exposed lee features at tree line. The main concern for this problem is at ridge crest and cross loaded gulleys where strong winds have deposited up to 40 cm of snow.

  • If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
  • Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Nov 27th, 2019 4:00PM

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