Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 22nd, 2015 4:00PM

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

Tim Haggarty, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

A bit more snow is headed our way over the next few days and the hazard may rise a bit as a result. Despite the poor ski quality in open areas above treeline, the coverage and quality below treeline is as good as it gets in November. TH

Summary

Weather Forecast

The Pacific warm air that invaded today will bring some moisture through for Monday and Tuesday. West winds will diminish and shift to the S late Sunday then build to moderate NE Monday night as a competing mass of cold air slides down from the North. Temps will drop SIGNIFICANTLY but a bit more snow might get squeezed out as the cold presses down.

Snowpack Summary

A field trip today in Yoho found extensive wind effect and wind slab development in all open areas TL and above but great skiing with good early season coverage in sheltered areas. A profile a 2100m on a N aspect found 90cm of snow with layers of Surface Hoar 20 and 35cm off of the ground reacting with crisp shears in the moderate to hard range.

Avalanche Summary

Only minor results from explosive testing on windslabs during the last few days. The sensitivity of these slabs seems to be diminishing despite the continued development of hard slabs above treeline.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

West winds have developed hard slabs TL and above . These demand respect in exposed areas and in big features but do not seem reactive to skier traffic.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Nov 23rd, 2015 4:00PM