Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 18th, 2023–Nov 19th, 2023

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

Brazeau, Cirrus-Wilson, Icefields.

Recently formed wind slabs in alpine features remain our main concern.

Early Season Conditions persist, so travel with caution.

Confidence

Low

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack is still generally very shallow with only 25-40cm at treeline. The alpine is heavily wind effected, with scoured windward slopes and ridges, and deposits up to a meter deep suspected in leeward features.

Weather Summary

Today

Cloudy with sunny periods.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: High -1 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 10 km/h.

Freezing level: 1800 metres.

Sunday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: High -3 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 55 km/h.

Freezing level: 1800 metres.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.

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.