Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Nov 29th, 2019 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
ahanna,
Avalanche Canada
Sunny, cold conditions and firm snow surfaces will make for fast travel in the alpine this weekend. Watch for early season obstacles and lingering pockets of wind slab.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.
Weather Forecast
Friday Night: Clear skies, moderate wind from the northeast, alpine temperatures -12 C.
Saturday: Mix of sun and cloud, light wind switching to SE, alpine high -8 C.
Sunday: Increasing cloud in the afternoon, moderate wind from the southwest, alpine high -8 C.
Monday: Cloudy with isolated flurries, wind increasing to strong from the southwest, alpine high -5 C. Freezing level 700 m.
Avalanche Summary
Ridge tops and slopes where the wind has deposited blowing snow are places where avalanches could most likely be triggered right now. Early season avalanches can most easily propagate and run in areas where the ground is smooth, such as on glaciers, rock slabs, scree slopes, or grassy slopes.
Observations are limited this time of year, so there is a fair bit of uncertainty about the extent of current avalanche activity. If you see anything while out in the field, please consider sharing that information with us and fellow recreationists via the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
Snowpack Summary
Recent reports, including a MIN post from Friday, describe scoured northerly aspects and firm wind pressed snow of variable depths over a hard rain crust in the alpine. A photo from another recent MIN report illustrates this variable snow coverage near treeline in the Whistler sidecountry. Snow depths up to 150 cm have been observed above 2000 m, tapering to 50 cm near treeline, with no snow below 1600m.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Variable snow depths and pockets of firm wind slab exist due to previous wind loading of south and west aspects in the alpine. While wind slab avalanches are becoming less likely, watch for small pockets in extreme terrain where consequences of a small avalanche could be high.
Aspects: South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Nov 30th, 2019 5:00PM
