Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 18th, 2020 4:00PM

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

Jesse Milner,

Expect to find illegal snowmobile tracks in the Parkers Ridge Area. Windslab avalanches have been triggered recently by skiers. Please post to the MIN. https://www.avalanche.ca/mountain-information-network/

Summary

Weather Forecast

Overnight: Flurries. 8 cm. -9. Light W wind.

Thursday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. High -7. Wind W: 15 km/h gusting to 40 km/h.

Friday: Flurries. 7 cm. Low -13, High -9. Wind SW: 20 km/h gusting to 50 km/h.

Saturday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Low -12, High -10. Wind W: 15 km/h gusting to 50 km/h.

Snowpack Summary

Yesterdays rain up to treeline have formed a new surface crust. Up to 15cm of new snow brings the snowpack to 45-75cm at treeline. The Nov. 4th rain crust exists up to 2600m depending on location in the forecast area, and is up to 50cm deep. SW winds have formed wind slabs in exposed terrain that have been reactive to skier traffic.

Avalanche Summary

On Monday a size 2 skier triggered wind slab avalanche above the Hilda Hostel at Parker Ridge failed down 70cm sending blocks of concrete like snow into the trees. Recent report of a size 2 skier triggered windslab in the alpine on a east aspect wind loaded feature. 

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

New snow and moderate SW winds are forming wind slabs in the Alpine and high Treeline features. A skier triggered wind slab at Parker Ridge on Monday shows that deep wind slabs are still reactive to human loads. See the MIN for more details.

  • Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Dry

An icon showing Loose Dry

Cool temps, winds and recent snowfall promoting loose dry avalanches in steep terrain.

  • Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Nov 19th, 2020 4:00PM