Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Nov 13th, 2020 4:11PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Dry.
Mark Herbison,
Do not rush blindly into steep, committing terrain. Our current problems are amplified when encountered in confined areas such as ice filled gullies or tight couloirs.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Saturday will bring mainly cloudy skies with isolated flurries accumulating ~2 cm of snow. Ridge top winds will average 35-50 km/hr from the West. Temps will range from -10 to -17. Sunday will see warmer temps, increasing winds (up to 100km/hr) and snow amounts in the 10-25 cm range.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 10cm of new snow has fallen. Moderate Southerly winds have formed fresh wind slabs in alpine terrain. The early Nov crusts exist up to 2400m in the Icefields Parkway area and found to be up to 2700m in the Sunshine area. This crust is 5-10cm thick and found 20-40cm above the ground. At tree line the snowpack is 40-80cm deep.
Avalanche Summary
No new natural avalanche activity observed on a road patrol, but visibility was poor along 93S and 93N today.
Local ski areas reporting small spin drifts from steep rocky terrain, one skier control size 1 wind slab and several size 1 wind slabs results from explosive control.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
Fresh wind slabs exist in wind loaded and gully areas in alpine terrain. They have the potential to run fast and far and could be a problem for ice climbers and skiers in confined gullies at high elevations.
- Be careful around wind loaded areas near ridge crests, cross loaded gullies and roll-overs.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
Fresh snow now buries the early November crusts and may not be bonding well. This problem is mainly a concern in steep confined terrain or where a small sluff could push you over a cliffs edge or into a terrain trap.
- If triggered dry loose point releases can form deeper deposits in terrain traps.
- 875
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Nov 14th, 2020 4:00PM
