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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 1st, 2021–Dec 2nd, 2021

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
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.

Regions

Little Yoho.

The storm will end Thursday AM, but expect avalanche hazard to stay elevated until cooler temperatures arrive and the new load settles.

Weather Forecast

Snow ending early Thursday AM, alpine winds will be around 40-60kmh decrease Thursday night into Friday. Poor to no freeze Thursday AM. Freezing levels will drop to valley bottom by the evening. Some flurries can be expected but no significant snow. Friday the temperatures will remain below freezing at valley bottom with light winds.

Snowpack Summary

Speculating 30-100cm of new snow in the high alpine based on 30mm at Bow Summit and 40mm at Sunshine in the last 24 hours. Rain occurred up to 2400m, saturating the snowpack. A midpack Nov.15 crust is found below 2100m, and the Nov. 5 crust/facet layer exists near the ground.

Avalanche Summary

Widespread natural activity and results to size 3 with explosives today. Poor visibility obscuring start zones but debris piles found in almost every path.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain on Thursday

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.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.