Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 22nd, 2012 9:34AM

The alpine rating is below threshold, the treeline rating is below threshold, and the below treeline rating is below threshold. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Avalanche Canada ccampbell, Avalanche Canada

This bulletin is based on limited data. Local variations in conditions are likely to exist. Check out the forecaster's blog for further details on interpreting early season bulletins.

Summary

Confidence

Poor - Due to limited field observations for the entire period

Weather Forecast

Friday: The main frontal system is expected to have gone through by friday morning leaving good amounts of precipitation accompanied by strong to extreme winds from the SouthEast. Accumulations should persist throughout the day moderately which could leave another 10 cm and the wind should also persist however more in the moderate range. Saturday and Sunday: Temperatures are expected to remain cool for the weekend and winds to blow moderately from the West. It looks like there could also be some more light precipitation on Sunday.

Avalanche Summary

There has been no new avalanche reported in the region but if you have any avalanche observation to report, please send us an email. A report from the Hankin-Evelyn area at the beginning of the month included a small human-triggered slab avalanche starting from a thin rock area. The slab was approximately 20cm deep and 8m and, ran full path with 70cm of deposition in the runout.

Snowpack Summary

Snow depth varies  from 60cm in the Northern part of the region to around 100cm in the Southern part of the region. Weather stations around the region recorded around 10 cm of new snow in the last 24 hours. With the heavy precipitation forecasted in some parts of the region and the strong winds blowing from the South, we expect new wind slabs to form on top of that 10 cm layer in the alpine and treeline on the Northerly aspects.  It is likely that these 2 layers will take some time to bond and that avalanches could be triggered naturally or by additional light loads such as a person.  The information is limited to produce our avalanche bulletins at this time of the year, so any information you have about the snowpack, please communicate with us by email.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
People triggering avalanches is possible on open exposed slopes below ridge crests and behind terrain features, and in cross-loaded gullies.
Assess start zones carefully and use safe travel techniques.>Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Nov 23rd, 2012 2:00PM