Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 9th, 2012–Nov 10th, 2012

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

Little Yoho.

Decent travel at higher elevations, lots of early season hazards below treeline. First cold snap coming up.... SH

Weather Forecast

Lows below -20C for next 2 days with highs around -15C. On Sat. winds aloft East switching North. Increased Westerly flow on Monday with a warming trend. No snow and fairly clear Saturday, minimal snow Sunday, Monday.

Snowpack Summary

HS approx. 50cm E of divide to 80cm W. of the divide. The Nov 6 crust ranges from a few cm to 10cm thick, generally more pronounced on S aspects with 20-40cm average on top. Except for isolated wind affected ridge features, there is a good bond to this layer. Surface facetting with cold temps.

Avalanche Summary

Wind slabs within storm snow 20-50cm thick (sz.1 not on Nov.6 crust, stubborn) triggered by ski cutting at Sunshine Village near lee ridge features. Similar results but on the Nov.6 crust in Lake Louise today. None observed up hwy 93.N

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable on Saturday

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.