Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Due to the quality of field observations on Wednesday

Synopsis:  A strong ridge of high pressure over BC and  western Alberta is doing a good job of blocking Pacific moisture from the region, an inversion will see temperatures higher in the alpine than at treeline.Overnight:  Nil precipitation.  Winds light to moderate from the west, freezing level at valley bottom.Monday:  Nil precipitation.  Winds light to moderate from the Southwest, freezing level in the alpine to 1400.Tuesday:  Nil precipitation.  Winds light from the Southwest, freezing level in the alpine to 1400.Wednesday:  Nil precipitation.  Winds light to moderate from the Southwest, freezing level in the alpine to 1400. Wednesday: 

Report of a size 2.5 snowmobile triggered avalanche in steep shallow snowpack, failing to ground level. Areas of shallow snowpack are of special concern, as well as areas where there is a hazard from above such as cornices or steep south facing cliffs.

Extensive wind transport and wind slab development has occurred in all areas of the region. Recent storm snow varies from 40-70 cm across the region and in some alpine areas storm slabs are more than a metre thick. Persistent weak layers of buried crusts/facets/surface hoar continue to be a concern, and may have been the failure plane for recent large natural avalanches. Forecast very warm temperatures may result in loose wet avalanches or cornice falls that could trigger the persistent weak layer at the base of the snow pack ( depth hoar ) or the surface hoar layer from late in November. Strong solar radiation combined with above freezing temperatures in the alpine could create very touchy triggering on Southerly aspects.