Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 25th, 2017 8:23AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wet Slabs and Wind Slabs.

andrew jones, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Challenging travel conditions remain in the wake of last week's rainstorm.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Cloudy skies with isolated flurries and trace amounts of accumulation. Freezing level at 1300m and ridge winds SW 25-45Km/h. A moisture laden system will track inland Sunday bringing strong SW winds and 60mm of precipitation to Rogers Pass by Tuesday afternoon. Freezing levels are expected to rise to 1900m, meaning 60mm of rain below tree line.

Snowpack Summary

20cm of dry snow is beginning to bond to a breakable crust. Below the November 23 crust sits a weak rain-saturated snowpack. If you take your skis off, you'll likely be standing in a hole up to your waste. Strong winds during the last storm created isolated pockets of wind slab in the alpine on northerly features. October 31 crust is down 100cm.

Avalanche Summary

Natural avalanche activity has dropped off since the recent rain storm.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain

Problems

Wet Slabs

Dry surface snow is insulating a rain-saturated wet slab that extends almost to the ground. This is a snowpack weakness that will only heal with cold. Given the mild weather forecast, this layer is expected to persists for several days.

Avoid steep, open slopes.Use extra caution on slopes if the snow is moist or wet.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Wind Slabs

Extreme southerly winds accompanied the November 22nd storm and created reactive wind slabs. This problem is isolated to leeward pockets in the alpine due to intense rainfall and warmer temps at lower elevations during the storm.

Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Nov 26th, 2017 8:00AM