Avalanche forecast

Sea To Sky

Nov 16 – 17, 2011Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

This bulletin is based on limited data. Local variation in conditions and danger levels are likely to exist. To produce more accurate forecasts, we need information. Please send an email to [email protected].

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Near ridgecrests and terrain breaks.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Steep slopes with enough snow on the ground to smooth any roughness in areas with sufficiently intense storms to form thick cohesive slabs.

Confidence

Poor - Due to limited field observationsfor the entire period

Weather Forecast

Thursday: Expect another 5-15cm of new snow as the storm tapers off. Freezing levels should lower to around 300m and winds should ease off becoming light to moderate westerlies.Friday: Isolated flurries bringing light amounts with freezing levels as low as 200m and light northwesterly winds.Saturday: Relatively clear, dry and cold with light northwesterly winds.

Avalanche Summary

No reports of avalanches, but I suspect wind slabs and any new storm slabs will be susceptible to human triggering. The size of the ensuing avalanche depends on slab thickness, with slabs thicker than 30cm generally producing avalanches sufficiently large to bury or injure a person.

Snowpack Summary

Total snowpack depth at treeline is around 80-100cm. Expect to find deeper pockets of wind-blown snow immediately down-wind of terrain features and ridge crests. A rain crust from last week is 70 or 80 cm off the ground at treeline and lower alpine elevations, and is heavily faceted faceted in some locations. Watch this weakness as it gets more load.

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