Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 4th, 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.

stephen holeczi, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Watch locally for snow amounts this weekend. Ski quality will be refreshed, but we will see a slow rise in the avalanche danger if the extended forecast holds true. SH

Summary

Weather Forecast

Scattered flurries expected Saturday with mod to strong SW winds and freezing levels to valley bottom. Saturday night through next week brings unsettled weather with 5-10cm expected each day, with the highest amounts along the divide in areas like Bow Summit, and the least in the Banff, Sunshine region.

Snowpack Summary

Surface hoar, sun crust and facets now buried by 5-20cm in the alpine. Surface hoar to 20mm exists up to 1800m in the Sunshine area. Above 1800m, S-SW facing terrain has a sun crust and other aspects are soft facets or wind hammered snow. Snowpack depth is 80-100cm at treeline. Soft wind slabs forming in immediate lees of ridge crests.

Avalanche Summary

Lake Louise reporting only small soft wind slabs in the immediate lees of ridge crests. A field trip to the Sunshine are saw no new activity.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Saturday

Problems

Wind Slabs

Small wind slabs will be forming in immediate lees. Places like the Bow Summit/Wapta region may have thicker wind slabs as they received more snow than other areas of the forecast region.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 5th, 2015 4:00PM