Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 28th, 2015–Nov 29th, 2015

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

South Coast.

Unusually warm alpine temperatures may drive danger up.Thanks to everyone who has been submitting to the Mountain Information Network. Join the movement!

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

High pressure, dry conditions and very warm alpine temperatures are expected to continue until Monday. Light snow is expected to begin late Monday and continue on Tuesday. At this stage, only a few cm are expected. Confidence in the intensity and timing of this system is low.For more details check out avalanche.ca/weather

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been reported.

Snowpack Summary

There is anywhere from 30-150 cm on the ground. Recent northerly outflow winds have scoured upwind slopes back to a firm crust, and created wind slabs on lee aspects. The snowpack is highly variable across different aspects and elevations.Wind slabs could be triggered by the weight of a person, especially where they overlie surface hoar, crusts or facets. The other big story is unusual warming at alpine elevations, which may weaken surface layers, or even wake up deeper snowpack weaknesses. Id take a cautious approach to big/ exposed terrain until winter temperatures return to normal.

Problems

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.

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.