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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 22nd, 2013–Nov 23rd, 2013

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kootenay Boundary.

This forecast is based on limited field data.  Feel free to send any observations to [email protected].

Confidence

Poor - Due to the number and quality of field observations on Friday

Weather Forecast

A high pressure system is forecast to persist through the weekend bringing dry conditions. A weak inversion could cause temperatures to approach zero degrees in the high alpine.Saturday: Light winds from the NW. Clear skies. High of -4C at 1500mSunday: Light winds from the NW. Becoming cloudy. High of -4C at 1500mMonday: Light winds from the NW. Cloudy skies. High of -3C at 1500m

Avalanche Summary

Explosive avalanche control earlier on Tuesday, November 19th produced storm snow slab avalanches up to size 2 in the Southern Selkirks.

Snowpack Summary

Reports from Kootenay Pass suggest that about 100cm of snow can be found at treeline in the area. Observations are limited and this amount may vary dramatically across the region.The storm earlier this week deposited 30cm of new snow in the alpine. Roughly 60 to 70cm of snow is now sitting on a widespread crust from early October.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.