Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 24th, 2014 8:02AM

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

Ali Haeri, Parks Canada

Glacier.

The winter permit system is not yet in effect. Click here for more information.Temperature and wind values are on the rise as another storm approaches the interior. Buried surface hoar and crusts are out there under a more significant load. Heads up!

Summary

Weather Forecast

A lull between storms this morning. Snow beginning later this morning with rising freezing levels to ~800-1000m. Moderate amounts are forecast into tonight with heavier amounts beginning early tomorrow morning and throughout tuesday as the bulk of the storm passes over the Interior. A second smaller wave is forecast for Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

22cm of lower density snow overnight bringing recent storm snow total to around 60cm at 1900m. This sits over the Nov 21 surface hoar/sun crust layer. The Nov 9 rain crust is down ~50-80cm and the Nov 3 crust is down ~80-110.

Avalanche Summary

6 natural avalanches, size 2.0, in the highway corridor east of the Rogers Pass summit from the gullies on Mt Macdonald

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Tuesday

Problems

Storm Slabs

Recent snow amounts have been accumulating and the winds have ramped back up. Riders reported hearing whoomphing and heavy over light snow conditions in Connaught yesterday. These are indicators of weaknesses within the snowpack.

Whumpfing, shooting cracks and recent avalanches are all strong inicators of unstable snowpack.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Dry

The latest snow to fall has been fairly low density. Watch for fast moving sluffs in steep terrain where the wind has not gotten to it.

Be aware of party members below you that may be exposed to your sluffs.