Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 26th, 2019–Nov 27th, 2019

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Sea To Sky.

Strong northeast wind is forecast for Wednesday. Wind slabs in alpine terrain are the main concern.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy, light northeast wind, alpine temperature -10 C, freezing level 800 m.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly clear skies, strong northeast wind, alpine temperature -12 C, freezing level below valley bottom.

THURSDAY: Clear skies, light northeast wind, alpine temperature -12 C, freezing level below valley bottom.

FRIDAY: Clear skies, light northeast wind, alpine temperature -8 C, freezing level below valley bottom.

Avalanche Summary

Observations are very limited right now, with recreationists just starting to get into the mountains and operations starting up. We haven't received any reports of recent avalanche activity. The most likely place to trigger an avalanche would be where the ground is smooth, such as on glaciers, rock slabs, scree slopes, or grassy slopes.

If you see anything while out in the field, please consider sharing that information with us and fellow recreationists via the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Snowpack Summary

Strong wind from the northeast may redistribute snow in the alpine, stripping snow from previously wind-loaded northerly features and now loading south to west terrain features. This snow covers a variety of surfaces, from bare ground below treeline, around 50 cm of snow intermixed with trees and rocks at treeline and lower alpine elevations, and upwards of 100 cm of snow above 2000 m.

The new snow may not bond well to an underlying hard melt-freeze crust. Use particular caution where the snow surface appears smooth, as this may mean an avalanche could propagate over a wider area.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.