Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 24th, 2014 10:23AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is below threshold. Known problems include Storm Slabs.

jlammers, Avalanche Canada

Kootenay Boundary.

Avalanche Danger is expected to increase as weather systems roll across the province and add to the developing storm slab. If new snow amounts are greater than 20 cm, consider Tuesday's danger ratings to be too low.

Summary

Confidence

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

A series of frontal systems will bring continued precipitation for the forecast period. A southerly feed will drive freezing levels up to around 2000m by Wednesday.Tuesday: 10-15cm of snow / Moderate west winds / Freezing level at about 1500mWednesday: 20-30cm of snow at higher elevations / Strong west winds / Freezing level at about 2000mThursday: 10-20cm of snow at higher elevations / Moderate southwest winds / Freezing level at about 1800m

Avalanche Summary

We have no reports of avalanches from this region. I suspect that recent storm slabs in the alpine may be easy to trigger where they are associated with a crust, surface hoar and/or facets. Storm slabs are expected to continue to develop with the forecast snow and wind.

Snowpack Summary

As we begin our forecasting season we are working with very limited field data. If you have been out in the mountains, please send us a note with your observations to forecaster@avalanche.ca.The limited field data that we have received suggests that there is not enough snow below treeline for avalanche activity. The developing storm slab in the alpine may be sitting on a weak layer of facetted snow, surface hoar, and/or a wind or sun crust that developed earlier in the month. This storm slab has been touchy to human triggers, and is expected to continue to develop with the forecast snow and wind. If you are sending us information, we are interested in snow depths at different elevations (alpine, treeline, below treeline), spatial extent of the crust/facet weak layer, and new snow/ storm snow amounts.

Problems

Storm Slabs

The avalanche danger is expected to increase as weather systems roll across the province. The developing storm slab may be extra touchy in wind-exposed terrain, or at upper elevations where buried weak layers are likely to exist.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.>The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Nov 25th, 2014 2:00PM