Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Nov 5th, 2020 6:57PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
Conrad Janzen,
New wind slabs in the alpine need time to settle and bond to previous layers. Avoid steep wind loaded terrain for a couple days. At treeline and below, early season hazards like thinly buried trees and rocks are present and require careful travel.
Summary
Weather Forecast
A clearing trend over night on Thursday should result in a mostly clear, cool day on Friday with light NW winds and temperatures between -12 and 0C.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 27mm of rain in the past 24 hrs at 2000m with freezing levels dropping from ~2500m to valley bottom on Thursday. At treeline the snow pack ranges from 30-60cm deep with 3-8cm of new snow over a 2 cm rain crust and moist snow to ground. Expect 30 to 40cm of recent snow above 2500m with extreme S-SW winds creating wind slabs and new cornices.
Avalanche Summary
A few new natural avalanches observed Thursday up to size 2 out of steep gullies. We suspect the triggers were either cornice failures or wind slabs but the weather made for very limited observations. Some wet loose avalanches observed in steep treeline gullies.
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
Problems
Wind Slabs
Extreme SW winds and new snow Thursday have created wind slabs in open alpine areas. Natural avalanche activity will slow on Friday with cooler temps, but skiers and climbers will still be able to trigger them and should use caution in steep terrain.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.
- Be careful around wind loaded areas near ridge crests, cross loaded gullies and roll-overs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Nov 6th, 2020 4:00PM
