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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Nov 30th, 2014–Dec 1st, 2014
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Cariboos.

A deeply buried weak layer means human-triggered avalanches will persist.  Conservative decision making remains critical. 

Confidence

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

A weak disturbance will bring increased cloud and light flurries for Monday and early Tuesday. Clear, dry conditions should return for afternoon Tuesday and Wednesday.Monday: A mix of sun and cloud, light flurries 0-2cm, treeline temperature around -20, light-moderate W alpine wind.Tuesday: Some clouds in the morning, clearing during the day, light flurries 0-2cm, treeline temperature around -15, strong NW alpine wind.Wednesday: Sunny, treeline temperature around -15, light-moderate W alpine wind.

Avalanche Summary

We haven't had any new reports in the last week. If you have any observations, please send them to [email protected]. Recent observations from the Rogers Pass area where the conditions are expected to be similar include widespread natural activity up to size 3.5 on Thursday and Friday. A natural size 3 was also reported on Saturday.

Snowpack Summary

The storm produced a slab up to 1 m thick which sits on the mid-November weak layer (facets, surface hoar, and/or a sun crust on steep southerly slopes). 20-30cm below this layer is a thick rain crust with weak facets on top. Snowpack data from the Cariboo region is very limited at the moment but I expect these layers are reacting similarly to the North Selkirk/Monashees because the formation conditions were generally the same. Snowpack tests on Sunday in Rogers Pass suggest the layers can still be human triggered, and if triggered, are capable of producing wide propagations and large avalanches.  Recent strong and variable winds have probably created dense wind slabs in exposed terrain and resulted in variable snow distribution in the alpine.

Avalanche Problems

Storm Slabs

A slab up to 1m thick sits on a weak layer and is producing large avalanches. Strong alpine winds have loaded leeward features in exposed terrain creating wind slabs.
Stay off recent wind loaded areas until the slope has had a chance to stabilize.>Whumpfing, shooting cracks and recent avalanches are all strong inicators of unstable snowpack.>Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 3 - 5