Avalanche Forecast

High - We are confident the likelihood of avalanche will increase with the arrival of the forecast weather. Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Snow and strong southwest winds continue above 1500m leaving the Columbia's with another 10-20cm overnight (and storm totals ranging from 40-70cm).

FRIDAY: Winds will shift westerly signaling a brief lull in the storm. Snowfall eases into flurries over the day with up to 10cm expected in localised areas. Freezing levels drop from 1500m to valley bottom overnight.

SATURDAY: We return to an active pattern with strong southwest winds and precipitation increasing from midday. Warmer than the last front, freezing levels are expected to rise to 1500-2000m. 

SUNDAY: Freezing levels remain elevated with heavy precipitation.

Our snowpack has received a significant amount of wind affected snow over the last 48 hours. Expect a natural avalanche cycle with the additional load received overnight. 

The greatest hazard to backcountry users exists in wind loaded terrain features where deeper slabs are sensitive to a human trigger. 

40-70cm of storm snow has been redistributed into lee features at alpine and treeline elevations, sitting over last weeks heavily wind affected storm snow. 

The mid November crust is now down 60-150cm on all aspects to 2350m with faceting below the crust. The lower snowpack contains several early season crusts which appear well bonded with no recent reactivity.

Snowpack depths exceed 300cm at treeline and alpine elevations, while below 1600m depth decreases rapidly. 

• Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind exposed terrain.
• Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
• Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.