Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Climbers and steep skiers watch out! Incoming wind will blow all this light new snow easily. Expect loose dry avalanches out of steep terrain. They may not be huge but they could easily ruin your day!
Weather Forecast
Thursday: Cold temps (-10 to -15) with alpine winds increasing into the strong range from the SW. Light snow starting in the evening
Friday: Slightly warmer but continued moderate to strong alpine winds, overcast skies and light snow.
For more weather information click here.
Snowpack Summary
5-15 cm of low density snow sits on the Nov. 5th rain crust which exists up to 2400 m near Bow Summit and Lake Louise and higher in the Sunshine area. This crust is 5-10 cm thick and ~ 20 cm above the ground. On solar aspects, a sun crust from previous warm temperatures exists to higher elevations. At treeline the snowpack ranges from 30-70 cm deep
Avalanche Summary
Evidence of a loose dry cycle to size 2 out of steep alpine terrain in the Bow Summit area from the previous 24 hours. Mostly out of steep gullies or climbing terrain. Noted two older deeper slabs out of high alpine terrain on the Wapta, but nothing fresh.
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
Avalanche Problems
Loose Dry
We expect natural loose dry activity to increase with the forecasted winds
- 874
- Avoid terrain traps, such as gullies, where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Wind Slabs
Forecasted moderate to strong SW winds on Thursday will likely create fresh windslabs in lee terrain
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.
- Be careful around wind loaded areas near ridge crests, cross loaded gullies and roll-overs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2