Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 5th, 2016 4:00PM

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

aaron beardmore, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

An arctic high pressure is setting in over the forecast region. Conditions are on an improving trend. If you can bear the temperatures the skiing is currently excellent.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Clear skies, light wind and very cold temperatures are forecasted for the next three days.Â

Snowpack Summary

30 cm of light, dry storm snow has fallen over the past 48-hours. Some thin and small windslabs were observed at ridge top today. Deeper in the snowpack, the Nov crust appears to faceting, with easy to moderate test results observed.

Avalanche Summary

Explosive control at Lake Louise ski area produced results up to size 2 this morning. Predominantly these slides were storm snow instabilities and very soft slabs up to 15-30cm deep.

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable on Tuesday

Problems

Wind Slabs

Surprisingly very little wind slab formation in the Lake Louise back country today. Areas to watch for are the immediate lee near ridge top.

Keep an eye out for reverse loading created by an upslope storm.Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Dry

30 cm of light, dry snow will be sluffing and creating much unpleasant spindrift for ice climbers. This problem will become less of a concern as the storm snow settles and the cold temperatures set in.

Use caution above cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.Be very cautious with gully features.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 6th, 2016 4:00PM