Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Dec 5 – 6, 2014Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

Light snow and warming temperatures over the next several days should make for a great weekend to be in the mountains. The snowpack is definitely weak, so take it easy and avoid big avalanche slopes. GS.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2
    Many places have been ravaged by winds from many directions, especially in the alpine. Watch for pockets of hard slab near ridge tops and cross loaded features.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–3
    The primary problem in the snowpack is the interface between the recent storm snow and the November 6th and 24th facet/crust interfaces. This is the problem responsible for the majority of the avalanches in the past week. Watch for remote triggers.

Weather Forecast

Clouds will move in overnight on Thursday, with light snow beginning on Friday morning and continuing through the weekend.  Expect 5-10 cm total in the Bow Summit area. Temperatures are warming up and expect 0 to -5 on Friday then moving into positive temperatures on Saturday.

Snowpack Summary

Recent storm snow has settled into a soft slab and has significant wind affect in open terrain at treeline and above. The lower half of the snowpack is complex and poorly structured & comprised of the facets (Nov 24th) at the interface of the recent storm snow and a series of thin crusts (Nov 6th) and depth hoar at or slightly above the ground.

Avalanche Summary

No new activity reported today.

Confidence

Regions covered