Avalanche Forecast

Limited field observations have detailed a range of reactivity in our new snow, from deep whumphs at Big White to stubborn wind slabs in Rogers Pass to a fairly electric natural avalanche cycle at Torpy. Timing of these reports suggest the most widespread, touchiest avalanche conditions resulting from recent weather are behind us, although the southern interior may see enough new snow through Monday night and Tuesday to sustain surface instabilities for longer than elsewhere in the province.

November 7 Update:

The series of storms that set us up with our current snowpack were widespread events that blanketed the interior of the province and the Alberta Rockies with remarkable uniformity. Total snowpack depths across this area currently range from about 60-120 cm, with shallower depths found below the alpine (naturally), as well as toward Kootenay Pass, and toward Pine Pass.

At higher elevations, increasing north and east winds in the early part of this week have been redistributing the latest 20-40 cm of new snow from over the weekend. This has resulted in widespread wind effect as well as new wind slabs throughout the alpine and likely in more exposed mid elevations as well. Since these wind directions are the opposite of what we normally see, expect to find reverse loading.

Below the latest snow, a few areas - such as Kootenay Pass and Pine Pass - also stand out for the presence of a rain crust that sits about 20cm deep. Precipitation falling as rain instead of snow during a storm last week explains the crust as well as the slightly shallower snowpack found in these areas. Similar crusts may be found bisecting the snowpack at mid and lower elevations elsewhere in the interior.

See the Mountain Weather Forecast to help you plan your early winter trips.