Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 14th, 2013 8:04AM

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

chris gooliaff, Parks Canada

Glacier.

The season is young and the snowpack is still shallow. Plenty of rocks, stumps, and alder are visible to abruptly bring your run to a halt. Keep your tips up and the throttle down.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Unsettled weather continues to move through the central Columbia Mountains, bringing light snow today and another 5-10cm tomorrow. Winds should be moderate, gusting strong, from the W/SW. Freezing levels will slowly drop to valley bottom by Saturday.

Snowpack Summary

A combination of wind slab and storm slab overlay a surface hoar layer, buried roughly 25-35cm down. Limited field observations did see results on this layer in tests yesterday. Suspect it will be touchy with the addition of 20-25cm of storm snow overnight. Below tree-line, the snowpack is still well below threshold for avalanches.

Avalanche Summary

Sz 2.5 out of Macdonald 10 gully yesterday. Suspect more activity with new storm snow overnight.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Problems

Storm Slabs

Moderate to strong SW winds overnight will have created soft slabs in alpine and tree-line lee features.

Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.Use caution in lee areas in the alpine. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Wind Slabs

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.Early season hazards such as rocks, trees and stumps are still visible.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Nov 15th, 2013 8:00AM