Avalanche Forecast

High - We are confident a natural avalanche cycle will begin shortly after the arrival of the incoming weather.

Tuesday night: As the storm builds throughout the day freezing levels will once again rise to 2000m with strong southwest winds in the Alpine. 15 to 30mm of precipitation is expected.

Wednesday: the storm will reach its peak early in the morning. Freezing levels will rise to 2300 and fall slightly throughout the day. Another 30mm of precipitation is expected with strong Southwest winds.

Thursday: Freezing levels will fall to 1400m with some lingering flurries in the wake of the storm. winds will be moderate from the West.

Friday: A ridge of high pressure will mean clear skies and light alpine winds. Freezing level will be at or near valley bottom.

Storm slabs will build throughout the night and following day. Natural avalanche activity is certain with this next weather system. Avalanches will run full path to lower elevations like the valley or simple, below treeline terrain. 

On Monday, reports indicated several natural wet loose avalanches from 900-1200 m (below treeline) up to size 2.

The next storm will bring as much as 60mm of precipitation. Most of which will fall as rain due to the high freezing level meaning a saturated snowpack at lower elevations. At higher elevations the new snow will add to the already large storm and wind slab problem.

 

The average snowpack depth at treeline is 250 cm. The mid-November rain crust can be found down 70 to 130 cm and exists around 1900 m and below. 

• Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.
• Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.