Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Nov 23rd, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
Avalanche Canada,
Avalanche Canada
Avalanches are most likely to fail on steep westerly through southerly wind-affected slopes near ridgetops.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday cracking and whumpfing, which are signs of instability, were noted in the Smithers area.
A few large (size 2) wind slab avalanches were reported last week. We suspect with recent and forecast wind, wind slabs may remain reactive to human triggering over the next few days.
Early season reports have been extremely limited. Please consider submitting your observations to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
A 5 to 10 cm layer of new snow may cover older wind-affected surfaces. Strong easterly winds previously created slabs on many lee slopes. Sunday’s forecasted winds could form new, thin but reactive wind slabs on top of the old ones.A rain crust from early November is likely buried 30 to 50 cm deep and may be poorly bonded to overlying wind slabs.Most areas below treeline do not have enough snow to meet the threshold for avalanches.Alpine snow depths vary across the region, with about 100 cm west of Smithers, 50 cm to the east, and around 100 cm in the Ningunsaw area.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Cloudy with 0 to 2 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h east wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
Sunday
Partly cloudy with 0 to 1 cm of snow. 25 to 35 km/h east wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.
Monday
Mostly sunny. 10 to 15 km/h variable wind. Treeline temperature -13°C
Tuesday
Partly cloudy. 50 km/h west wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
- Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been affected by wind.
- Keep in mind a buried crust offers an excellent bed surface for avalanches.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Forecast easterly winds may build fresh wind slabs on leeward slopes on Sunday. Older wind slabs from last week could still be poorly bonded to an underlying crust.
Aspects: South, South West, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Nov 24th, 2024 4:00PM
