Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 17th, 2016 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is below threshold. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

snow safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

There is decent snow cover for November at upper elevations with a supportive lower snowpack. Watch for isolated wind slabs which may be sitting over a rain crust depending on elevation and aspect. SH

Summary

Weather Forecast

Light winds ranging from S-SE Friday with more seasonal temperatures staying well below freezing compared to the warm temperatures we have had this past week. Only flurries for Friday and light snow amounts through the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

20-30cm of new snow at treeline from a storm at the start of the week was accompanied by moderate to strong SW to NW winds which formed some wind slabs at higher elevations. This new snow sits on the Nov. 12 crust (1-2cm thick ) which is present on all but high N aspects (not seen above 2400m on N. aspects) . Below this is a well settled snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Sluffing in steep terrain and some small wind slabs over the Nov. crust noted. We have limited observations from high alpine areas.

Confidence

Due to the quality of field observations on Thursday

Problems

Wind Slabs

New wind slabs have formed with the new snow. So far things seem to be bonding reasonably well to the buried Nov 12 crust however some skier triggering has been reported on this layer.

Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Nov 18th, 2016 4:00PM