Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 14th, 2019–Nov 15th, 2019

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Many early season hazards exist, related to thin snowpack coverage. Be on the lookout for wind slabs in lee areas in the alpine.

Weather Forecast

Mainly cloudy on Friday with isolated flurries throughout the day, with an alpine high of -3, 15-45 km/hr SW winds and a freezing level up to 1700m. Saturday will see ~5cm of snow and increasing winds. Sunday the storm intensifies bringing up to 20cm of snow, 20-75km/hr winds and a freezing level up to 2000m.

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of settled snow sits on the Nov 8 crust and a variety of old wind slabs in the alpine. The Nov 8 crust is present up to 2400 m. Faceting observed around the Oct crusts near the ground. Treeline snow depths range from 50-80 cm, and up to 110 cm wind loaded pockets in the alpine.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches observed or reported on Thursday.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.