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Avalanche Forecast

Nov 26th, 2023–Nov 27th, 2023
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
Early Season
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be early season
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
Early Season
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be early season
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
Early Season
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be early season

Regions: Banff, Banff Yoho Kootenay, East Side 93N, Field, Kootenay, LLSA, Lake Louise, Little Yoho, Sunshine, West Side 93N.

Watch for potential wind-loading at ridgetops on Monday. Be especially careful of venturing into deeper snowpack or wind-loaded pockets where denser snow sits over a weak base.

The snowpack remains very thin for this time of the year and Early Season Conditions persist.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported or observed on Sunday.

A size 2 natural avalanche occurred recently on Unity Peak near Lake Louise, likely failing on the facet/crust combination at the base of the snowpack.

Snowpack Summary

Surface hoar and surface facetting continue to develop. Thursday's storm snow has settled to 10-15 cm in eastern areas but only a trace out west. This recent snow overlies a previously wind-scoured snowpack with a thin suncrust on south and west aspects. The bottom of the snowpack consists of weak basal facets and a spotty melt-freeze crust from late October.

The snowpack is 30-50 cm deep at treeline with many areas still below threshold, and up to 90 cm in deeper alpine areas.

Weather Summary

Mainly sunny skies are expected on Monday with winds gradually increasing to strong from the west at ridgetop. Treeline temperatures will be between -12 and -6°C during the day.

For more weather forecast details, click here.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.
  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slabs

The main concern is pockets of deeper or wind loaded snow where a denser mid pack sits over a weak layer of basal facets and/or an Oct melt freeze crust at the base of the snowpack. This weak layer can still be triggered by people and propagate a significant distance. Use caution in steep loaded terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5