Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Forecasts are for use by experienced backcountry travelers in uncontrolled sidecountry and backcountry terrain. These forecasts and conditions do not apply to open, in-bounds terrain at ski resorts, which is subject to avalanche control by local resort ski patrol.
Avalanche Rating
Considerable (3)
Minimize exposure to avalanche terrain. Heavy snowfall and wind have formed reactive slabs at all elevations.
Natural avalanches may occur.
More Detail
To get the complete forecast with additional graphics and details, please view the Avalanche Canada Zone forecast provided by Avalanche Canada.
Snowpack Discussion
Storm totals from the week vary from 60-150 cm across the region. This snow has fallen over another 70 cm of settling snow. Westerly winds will redistribute this snow into deep deposits at higher elevations.
A crust from early November may be found in the mid to lower snowpack, where it may be combined with surface hoar and facets. The distribution and reactivity of this layer are not well understood. It is uncertain whether avalanches are failing on this layer.
Below the snowpack consists of melt freeze crusts, facets, and depth hoar in some areas.
At treeline, snowpack depth ranges from 100 to 200 cm.
Avalanche Activity
Saturdays reports included evidence of a natural avalanche cycle to size 2 near Hasler. Larger cycles are likely to have occurred in areas with more significant snowfall.
Looking forward, rising temperatures and strong winds are likely to form sensitive slabs in wind affected terrain. Natural avalanches may occur.
Observations remain very limited this early in the season. If you head into the backcountry, please post to the Mountain Information Network.