Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 29th, 2015 8:24AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs, Loose Dry and Deep Persistent Slabs.

Parks Canada percy woods, Parks Canada

Sunshine and a strong temperature inversion with above freezing temperatures at 2000m. Expect an increasing avalanche danger especially on alpine solar aspects.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Sunshine and a strong temperature inversion in the alpine should be expected today. Temperatures have been above freezing since mid-day Friday at around the 2000m level. Light northerly winds will not reduce these warming effects significantly. Clear skies in the alpine are expected to dominate until mid week.

Snowpack Summary

Reverse loading from earlier strong northerly winds have created windslab along the immediate lee on alpine solar aspects. These slabs reside on suncrusts on steep solar aspects (S-SW) and surface hoar on other aspects. Surface hoar was observed up to 1700m with moist surface snow from 1900m to 2200m due to the above freezing temps.

Avalanche Summary

Several size 1.5-2.0 avalanches were observed in the highway corridor yesterday. Point release activity was occurring on steeper solar aspects yesterday triggered by above freezing temperatures

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Reverse loading from northerly winds has formed windslabs on southerly aspects.
Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Dry

An icon showing Loose Dry
A strong temperature inversion at and above treeline today may result in point release activity on solar aspects.
Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs
A weak facet layer resides at the base of the snowpack on alpine N-NE aspects. Several large avalanches have occurred on this layer including the Bruin's ridge skier triggered slide earlier this month.
Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Nov 30th, 2015 8:00AM