Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Dec 12 – 13, 2015Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

The skiing is excellent but make sure you stop and put your snow profile skills to work. The Dec 3 surface hoar layer is widespread below 1900m. Dig down, look for this layer, and test it - it may become a tricky persistent slab avalanche problem.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    The recent storm was accompanied by moderate to strong winds at tree line and above. Things are improving but watch out for wind slabs in typically suspicious areas after a storm: leeward and cross loaded slopes or slopes near ridge crests.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    A 30-45cm slab is forming over a dangerous layer of surface hoar below 1900m. Treat all steep open slopes below treeline with suspicion until you can rule out this weak layer.

Weather Forecast

Saturday will be overcast with a few flurries but little in the way of accumulations. Temperatures will range from -4 to -10 and winds will be light to moderate from the west.

Snowpack Summary

In most places below 1900m, a 30-40 cm soft slab of recent storm snow sits over the December 3rd surface hoar. This is producing easy shears in snow pit tests and slowly settling into a more cohesive slab, especially in areas to the West with more snow. In the alpine, winds from the recent storm have left wind slabs in lee areas.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control on Friday at the Lake Louise ski resort produced slab avalanches in alpine lee areas up to size 2. Small loose snow avalanches were also observed in steep alpine terrain. 

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Regions covered