Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Nov 30th, 2019 8:01AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
jonas hoke,
Parks Canada
Cold temps and short days could turn even a minor injury into a serious situation. Start early, finish early, and make conservative decisions later in the day.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Ongoing cold and dry conditions today with an alpine high of -7C, an overnight low of -11C (-17 in the valley bottoms) and light easterly ridge crest winds. Freezing levels will remain well below valley bottom. A warming trend begins on Sunday as the arctic ridge starts to break down.
Sunset time is currently 15:51hrs, plan accordingly.
Snowpack Summary
Cold temps are facetting the upper snowpack. Previous strong Northerly winds have redistribute last weekend's storm snow, watch for reverse loading. The main layer to watch for was buried during last weekends storm (Nov 23rd) - Surface Hoar treeline and below, and a crust on solar aspects into the alpine (widesrpead below 1600m) - buried 25-40cm.
Avalanche Summary
One size 2.5 slab avalanche came out of MacDonald Gulley 2 Thursday running half way down the runout zone. No new avalanches reported in the backcountry.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
Cold temps appear to have decreased slab properties in the upper snowpack, isolated pockets of windslabs from previous moderate to strong N through E winds can still be found.
- Keep an eye out for reverse loading created by North through East winds.
- Use caution above cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Last weekend's storm snow buried a weak surface hoar layer at treeline and below, and a crust on steep solar aspects into the alpine. Cold temps appear to have decreased slab properties in the upper snowpack, but this layer should not be discounted.
- Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 1st, 2019 8:00AM
