Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 18th, 2011–Nov 19th, 2011

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kootenay Boundary.

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].

Confidence

Poor - Due to limited field observations

Weather Forecast

Saturday & Sunday: Cool and dry, with temperatures reaching -10 and Easterly winds easing to calm. No precipitation. Monday: Clouds developing with a chance of flurries later in the day. Winds turn Westerly but remain light.

Avalanche Summary

Observations are extremely limited at this time. No new avalanches have been reported.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15cm of new snow has fallen in the last 24hrs. Snowpack depths are likely in the 60-80cm range at about 1600m and about 125cms at 2000m. In the upper snowpack, windslab and storm snow instabilities exist within previous accumulations of up to 80cms+. Watch for the possibility of reverse loading with the recent Easterly winds. There's bound to be variability throughout the region and one slope/mountain/drainage may differ significantly from the next. A conservative approach combined with careful investigation of local conditions is advised until we get a better understanding of conditions.

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.