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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 13th, 2023–Nov 14th, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.

Regions

Brazeau, Cirrus-Wilson, Icefields.

20-30cm snow arrived Saturday plus additional 20cm on Monday with gusting winds. Be vigilant for wind slabs and dry loose avalanches in steep alpine and sheltered terrain. It is early season conditions with limited field info, thus you need to make astute decisions.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Monday noted one size 1.5 windslab roadside Hilda ridge. Sunday's Icefield patrol noted several size 1.5-2 wind slabs. An avalanche fatality occurred Saturday in K-country and explosive control produced wind slab and loose dry avalanches up to size 2 on NE alpine aspects. Please consider submitting a MIN report.

Snowpack Summary

20-30cm of new snow on Saturday with another 10cm on Monday plus gusting winds created wind slabs. It overlies a thin and faceted early season snowpack base. Stability tests fail easy at the base.

Weather Summary

Monday will bring 8 cm of snow, -3 °C, and gusting 55 km/h winds. Flurries and gusting winds will continue overnight. Expect flurries, 5cm of snow, and SW gusting 55 km/h winds on Tuesday. Colder temperatures and gusting winds will continue through Wednesday. It could be -18 °C on Thursday.

Mountain Weather Forecast https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid freshly wind loaded terrain features.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.