Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 30th, 2016 7:55AM

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

chris gooliaff, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Give larger features in the alpine, like planar or convex slopes, some distance. Watch for rocks, stumps, and open creeks at lower elevations.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries today, bringing up to 5cm. Winds will be light SW and freezing levels should remain below 1200m. Thursday shows much of the same, but with less snow. On Friday, a disturbance rolls through, bringing 10-15cm of snow and mod to strong West winds.

Snowpack Summary

Previous strong southerly winds have created wind slabs and cornices, which could be hiding under more recently fallen snow. A temp/sun crust is buried around 30cm deep on solar aspects, but it is spotty in distribution. The Nov 13 crust is now buried between 50 and 100cm deep, depending on wind redistribution.

Avalanche Summary

Two size 2 slabs, triggered by artillery on Mt Macdonald yesterday. No other reports of avalanche activity. Loose snow sluffs were reported to be moving fast and far a couple of days ago in steep tree-line terrain.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Problems

Wind Slabs

Moderate to strong winds, convective flurries and new snow have created wind slabs on lee features. These wind slabs may be triggered by light loads. Highly variable snow depth should be expected in the alpine from wind redistribution.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

Snowpack settlement has formed a slab over the Nov 13 crust. Field tests on this crust and a stellar/surface hoar layer just above it indicate the slab, depending on location, may have a poor bond and be susceptible to human triggering.

Choose regroup spots carefully.Carefully evaluate terrain features by digging and testing on adjacent, safe slopes.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Dec 1st, 2016 8:00AM