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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 5th, 2020–Dec 6th, 2020

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
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.

Low hazard doesn't mean no hazard. As you transition from melt-freeze conditions to dry snow, lookout for rogue wind-loaded pockets in lee features. And be wary of moist or wet snow under a hot sun. 

Confidence

Low - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY NIGHT: Cloudy patches / Moderate, south ridgetop wind / alpine low temperature -5 / Light inversion, freezing level dropping to valley bottom.

SUNDAY: Mostly sunny / Moderate, southwest ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature -1 / Freezing level 1400 m.

MONDAY: Cloudy with scattered flurries, up to 5 cm / Light, southwest ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature -3 / Freezing level 1400 m.

TUESDAY: Cloudy with scattered flurries, 5-15 cm / Light, gusty southwest ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature -1 / Freezing level 1300 m.

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches reported on Thursday or Friday.

Last Wednesday, numerous loose wet avalanches were reported from NE slopes above 2000 m. These avalanches were up to size 1.5 with no significant propagation.

Have you been out and about in the mountains? If so please submit to the Mountain Information Network (MIN). It doesn't have to be technical it can be as simple as a photo. Photos are especially helpful! 

Sending a big thank you to the already submitted MIN's this season. Thanks everyone!

Snowpack Summary

Recent sun and warm air in the alpine likely had the greatest impact on the upper snowpack, melt-freeze conditions exist on most slopes including solar alpine features. In more shaded terrain at upper elevations where dry snow has prevailed, pockets of wind slab may be found on leeward slopes and below ridges. New surface hoar formation can be found at treeline and below where it is protected from the warm temperatures, sunshine and wind.

Treeline snowpack depths sit around 50 to 80 cm in the south of the region. 

Crusts from mid-and early-November are generally found 30 cm below the snow surface and 10 cm up from the ground at all elevations. While they are showing resistant planar results in snowpack tests, a lot of uncertainty still exists with limited observations.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • Avoid exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.