Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Nov 20th, 2020 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs, Persistent Slabs and Loose Dry.
Benjamin Firth,
Stay clear of wind loaded lee features and watch for hidden early season hazards. Don't get surprised, we have a long season ahead.
We appreciate your observations, please report on the MIN network if you have the opportunity
Summary
Weather Forecast
Tonight: Accumulation: 4 cm. Alpine temperature: Low -10 C. Ridge wind southwest: 15 km/h gusting to 50 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Saturday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Precip: Trace. Alp temp: High -9 C. Ridge wind SW: 15-35 km/h.
Sunday: Precip: Nil. Alp temp: Low -14 C, High -9 C. wind SW: 10 km/h.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 40cm of new low density snow in the past 48 hours.The snowpack is ~100cm at treeline. The Nov. 4th rain crust up to 2600m depending on location, and is up to 55cm deep. Continued wind slab development on N and W aspects ridgetop down into treeline. Old wind slabs buried in exposed terrain that sit on the Nov 4th crust continue to be reactive
Avalanche Summary
Several natural wind slab avalanches in the alpine on north aspects have been observed in the Jasper and Bald hills region over the past 24 hours. No new avalanches observed in the Icefields region today. Observations were limited to treeline and below.
Confidence
Due to the quality of field observations on Friday
Problems
Wind Slabs
Up to 40cm of new snow with moderate winds at ridge top has produced windslabs in the immediate lee at ridge tops and down into tree line.
- 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
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Pockets of previous wind deposited snow overlies the Nov 4 rain crust and continues to be reactive to skier traffic and large loads such as explosives.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
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
Expected Size
Valid until: Nov 21st, 2020 4:00PM
