Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 27th, 2022 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Dry.

Avalanche Canada GL, Avalanche Canada

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Saturday night's 15cm of new snow overnight was localized at the Parker's ridge area. It is adding to the snow load on a potentially weak buried Surface hoar layer approximately 30cm down. This layer's distribution is still being assessed so important to evaluate snow and terrain carefully, investigate for it's presence, and assume human triggered avalanches are possible. It is November and early season conditions exist everywhere with a lot of spatial variability.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No field patrol occurred on Sunday and nothing new was reported. On Saturday, several Loose Dry avalanches up to size 1.5, and one size 2 wind slab were observed in the icefields area. Cracking and small slabs were triggered in wind effected areas at tree line yet did not propagate.

Snowpack Summary

25-35cm overlies a Surface hoar-Facet-crust combination layer depending on aspect and elevation. 6mm Surface hoar is found preserved in treeline Hilda ridge sheltered locations. Moderate to strong Southwest winds have created a wind slab in most exposed locations. Height of snow ranges from 60 to 100cm.

Weather Summary

Sunday night will be clear with isolated flurries, trace amount of snow, -24 °C, and light North winds. Monday will bring sun and clouds, no new snow, -20 °C, and light Northeast winds. Tuesday will be similar. Wednesday may have cloud and flurries, 5cm of snow, -29 °C to -14 °C, and light South winds.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Avoid terrain traps such as gullies and cliffs where the consequence of any avalanche could be serious.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Previous Strong south west winds have formed wind slabs in leeward and cross-loaded terrain features at tree line and above.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Loose Dry

An icon showing Loose Dry

Use caution in steep and/or confined terrain features.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Nov 28th, 2022 4:00PM