Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Nov 19th, 2017 8:08AM
The alpine rating is Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeAnother stormy day today with heavy snowfall and wind loading.Expect natural avalanches today that could run to valley bottom.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Another stormy day! Today 20 cms are forecast, with 35km/hr winds from the Southwest. Tonight we can expect another 10-15cm before a break between storms on Monday. Further out the current forecast shows another weather system Tuesday/Wednesday bringing precipitation and high freezing levels.
Snowpack Summary
We received another 14cm of snow in the last 24hrs, bringing the storm total to approx 80cm. The snow pack has almost doubled in the last week and a half! The Halloween crust is the layer we're watching and it's down approx 90cm.The Nov 9th is a hard to find & spotty surface hoar layer in the top 70cm.The snowpack remains shallow below 1700m
Avalanche Summary
Numerous avalanches to size 2 were observed in the highway corridor from very steep terrain on Mt MacDonald and Tupper in the last 48 hrs. There was also avalanche debris reported from steep north facing terrain in Cannaught creek drainage. This increase in avalanche activity can be attributed to recent snow loading and strong winds in the alpine.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Problems
Storm Slabs
Heavy snow loading and strong alpine winds have created a reactive storm slab in the alpine. The storm slab will be more reactive in unsupported terrain and ridgetop terrain features exposed to wind loading.
The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.Minimize overhead exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
The Halloween Crust layer is buried down approximately 90cms. With the recent loading from heavy snow and strong winds we could see this layer become reactive. If it does "wake up" the resulting avalanches would be large!
Minimize exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Nov 20th, 2017 8:00AM