Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Nov 26th, 2020 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Loose Wet and Wind Slabs.
ahanna,
Avalanche Canada
Fresh wind slabs may be found at mountaintop, where strong southwest winds load new snow into lee terrain features. Elsewhere, rain saturates the upper snowpack.
Summary
Confidence
Low - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.
Weather Forecast
Thursday night: Snow turning to rain, 5-10 mm accumulation, moderate to strong west wind, freezing level rising to 1500 m.
Friday: 5-15 mm rain, strong southwest wind, freezing level 1500 m.
Saturday: 30 mm rain overnight then clearing, light west wind, freezing level dropping to 1000 m.
Sunday: Clear, moderate southwest wind, freezing level 1800 m.
Avalanche Summary
Small loose wet avalanches up to size 1 were observed on south to west aspects on Wednesday afternoon. Small loose wet activity may be observed on all aspects as rain saturates the snowpack over the next couple of days.
Our eyes and ears in the mountains are limited at this time of year and may continue this winter due to fewer professional observations. If you see anything while out in the field, please consider sharing it with us and fellow recreationists via the Mountain Information Network (MIN). Even just a photo of where you went is helpful. A big thank you to those that have already shared their observations thus far.
Snowpack Summary
Rainfall saturates the upper snowpack on all but the tops of the tallest peaks in the region. Above 1400 m, up to 25 cm may accumulate through the day Friday amid strong west winds, forming wind slabs in lee features.
Snowpack depth rapidly changes with elevation. The snowline has been reported to be around 900 m. The snowpack rapidly jumps to around 100 cm deep above 1000 m and between 150 to 200 cm near the mountain tops.
Numerous melt-freeze crusts and ice layers exists in the snowpack and reports indicate that the surrounding snow is well-bonded to them.
Terrain and Travel
- Minimize exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind or rain.
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Be cautious of buried obstacles especially below treeline.
Problems
Loose Wet
Loose wet avalanches are possible out of steep terrain as the upper snowpack becomes saturated by rain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Above 1400 m, 25 cm of new snow and strong southwest winds may form thick wind slabs in lee features.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Nov 27th, 2020 4:00PM
