Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff, Banff Yoho Kootenay, East Side 93N, Field, Kootenay, LLSA, Lake Louise, Little Yoho, Sunshine, West Side 93N.
While temperatures are cooling off and stability should improve, we have somewhat limited observations. A wait and see approach is a good idea.
Travel conditions are challenging and early season hazards are back in many places!
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Sunshine ski hill produced avalanches on the persistent slab problem, on northerly aspects of the alpine to size 1 durring contorl work today.
Out side of the control, no new natural activity was reported.
Snowpack Summary
Warm temperatures and rain over the past week created moist surface snow up to 2500 m, which will continue to freeze overnight Friday and result in a melt-freeze crust forming on the snow surface. The impact of this warming on the snowpack layering has yet to be evaluated, but expect the snowpack to strengthen in most areas as it refreezes. High and northerly aspects may still hold some dry snow and below treeline is below threshold for avalanches in many places.
Weather Summary
Saturday should mark the beginning of freezing levels returning to near valley bottom, with Sunday cooler yet. Saturday afternoon could see the arrival of the next storm, coming in from the east. Areas east of the divide could see 5-15 cm of snow and areas to the west 5-10 cm. Winds will pick up to strong and switch from the S/W flow to a N/E direction.
For more mountain weather click HERE
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid areas where the snow feels stiff and/or slabby.
- The likelihood of deep persistent slab avalanches will increase with each day of warm weather.
- Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
Slabs formed over facets/surface hoar formed in January were very active over recent days but with the cooling, their likelihood of avalanching is significantly reduced. As the temps continue to cool this problem will stabilize but may still exist at higher elevations where the snow remains dry.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Deep Persistent Slabs
The cooling trend will stabilize this problem, but it remains a question in alpine areas where the snow is still dry and the base of the snowpack consists of weak facets and depth hoar. Reevaluate this problem carefully over the coming days.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3