Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 20th, 2014–Nov 21st, 2014

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

Glacier.

The winter permit system is not in effect yet. Click here for information. The new snow that is forecast for the next few days will raise the avalanche hazard due to faceting of the thin early snowpack during the cold weather period.

Weather Forecast

The unseasonably cold weather is coming to an end and is being replaced with a more normal weather pattern. There is light snow predicted for the next few days with flurries today and 5cm of snow for tonight and 5cm more tomorrow.

Snowpack Summary

Observations are limited. Reports from the Backcountry are of thin and rocky conditions, and where there is snow, it is wind blown. The November 9 rain crust is down 30-40cm at 1900m and the snow above this crust is faceting in the cold and windy conditions. Snowpack below tree line is still very thin.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity since November 11th has been reported.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

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.