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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 22nd, 2024–Nov 23rd, 2024

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

Regions

Kootenay Boundary, Lizard-Flathead, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, Ymir, Flathead, Lizard, Crawford, Moyie, St. Mary, Kokanee.

The storm slab problem continues to build.
Watch for signs of instability, like whumpfing or shooting cracks, and turn back if you see them.

If you go out, consider a MIN.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

Reports are very limited at the moment but the storm slab is sensitive to human triggering and natural avalanches are possible.

Several large (size 2-2.5) storm slab avalanches occurred in the Lizard range near Fernie on Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

Around 35 cm of recent storm snow sits on top of another 30-40 cm from last weekend, which in some areas has a layer of surface hoar crystals underneath.
The bottom of the snowpack is moist snow, and in some areas has transformed into a crust from early November that is just above the ground. The crust has acted as a bed surface for recent avalanches.
Snowpack depth is 110-180 cm at treeline.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of snow. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Sunday

Mix of sun and cloud with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Monday

Mix of sun and cloud with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Don't let storm day fever lure you into consequential terrain.
  • As the storm slab problem worsens, the easy solution is to choose more conservative terrain.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.