Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Nov 25 – 26, 2018Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Watch for areas where a cohesive slab may exist over the weak, faceted crystals associated with the October 26 crust near the base of the snowpack.

Avalanche problems

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–2.5
    Continued, reports of skier remote and explosive triggering of the October 26 facet and crust layer.  Avoid areas where a stiffer, or more cohesive slab may exist over these weak, faceted crystals near the base of the snowpack.

Weather Forecast

The flow switched back to the west today with light to moderate W or SW winds at the high stations. Temps will remain near -5C at 2000m Sunday but start to climb reaching 0C by Tuesday as a low pressure system approaches from the coast. Precip is possible Sunday and Monday but will intensify for Tuesday as the low reaches the region.

Snowpack Summary

5cm to 10cm of new snow now buries surface hoar, crust on steep south slopes and previous wind effect. With 40 to 85cm at 2200m across the region, the entire snowpack is weakening as it facets. The October 26 crust generally is found 10 to 30 cm above the ground. As this crust breaks down, large facets are growing both above and below it.

Avalanche Summary

Skiers at Harvey Pass near Sunshine Village yesterday remote triggered a slab at about 2500m on a NE aspect while the avalanche control team at Lake Louise triggered a slab on Whitehorn on a similar aspect and elevation. Both of these slabs failed on the October 26 deep persistent layer approx 50 cm deep and were size 1.5- 2.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Regions covered