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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 13th, 2021–Nov 14th, 2021

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Little Yoho.

An intense storm arrives on Sunday with forecast snow amounts ranging from 15 to 40+cm and accompanied by very strong W winds. If the larger amounts of snow arrive, the avalanche hazard will rise rapidly on Sunday and Monday.

Weather Forecast

An intense weather system arrives early Sunday morning with forecast snow amounts ranging from 15 to 40+ cm depending on the weather model and strong to extreme west winds. Another strong pulse of snow is forecast for Monday. Freezing levels will hover around 1900 m until things start to cool off on Tuesday morning.

Snowpack Summary

5-15 cm of new snow overnight with rain below 1800 m on Friday. Down 20-30 cm a thin melt-freeze crust exists in some areas that may be present up to 2500 m on solar aspects. Below this is another 10-20 cm of facetted snow over a melt-freeze crust at or near the ground. The snowpack is 40-50 cm deep at treeline with more snow in the alpine.

Avalanche Summary

Limited observations but the Lake Louise and Sunshine ski areas have reported triggering small wind slab avalanches up to size 1.5 in the alpine over the past few days. These have averaged 40 cm deep and were failing near the ground. A few more small slabs were reported into treeline elevations on Friday. No new avalanches observed on Saturday.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Sunday

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.