Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 24th, 2018 3:39PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Avalanche Canada cgarritty, Avalanche Canada

Lingering wind slabs are scattered around the alpine while rugged early season conditions prevail at lower elevations.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Saturday night: Cloudy with clear periods and light to moderate west winds.Sunday: Mainly cloudy. Light to moderate west winds. Alpine high temperatures around -5.Monday: Mainly cloudy. Moderate to strong southwest winds, increasing overnight. Alpine high temperatures around 0 as freezing levels jump to a possible 2500 metres.Tuesday: Cloudy with isolated wet flurries and a trace to 5 cm of new snow at highest elevations. Light rain below about 1800 metres. Alpine high temperatures around 0 with freezing levels remaining near 2200 metres.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported in the region. A Mountain Information Network post from Monday details a large (size 2) skier-triggered wind slab in a steeper wind-loaded feature in the alpine in the Mause Creek area in the west of the region. The slab had a depth of 25-40 cm and featured a 50 m wide crown fracture line.

Snowpack Summary

Light snowfall over Thursday buried a widespread layer of weak, feathery surface hoar crystals with about 5-10 cm of new snow. Below the surface hoar, the new snow has also buried pockets of recently reactive wind slab in wind-exposed terrain at treeline and above. This wind-affected layer sits above a mixed layer of late-October and early-November melt-freeze crusts and facets found at the base of the snowpack at treeline and above. Snowpack depths taper quickly as elevation decreases and snow depths below treeline generally remain below threshold depth for avalanching. Travel conditions in many areas at treeline and below continue to be rugged.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Recent snowfall likely formed thin new wind slabs in the lee of exposed features at high elevations. The new snow may also be obscuring older, more stubborn wind slab.
Examine slopes for patterns of wind transport and avoid steep patches of stiff, slabby snow.Increase your caution as you transition into wind affected terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Nov 25th, 2018 2:00PM