Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff, Banff Yoho Kootenay, East Side 93N, Field, Kootenay, LLSA, Lake Louise, Sunshine, West Side 93N.
Conditions remain mostly unchanged and the snowpack is static due to an absence of inputs and cold temperatures.
Small windslabs exist in isolated alpine locations, so watch for these if venturing into wind affected alpine terrain.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Sunshine reported a couple small windslabs in the alpine but less reactive than yesterday. Otherwise, no new avalanches observed by the field team in the Little Yoho area.
Snowpack Summary
The surface is a mix of facets, wind effect and/ or sun crust depending on your location. Below this, the mid-pack consists of more facets which sit over the October crust and depth hoar at the bottom. Snow depths at treeline range from 60-100 cm.
Weather Summary
Cold, dry with intermittently strong westerly winds is the theme for the next few days:
Wednesday will be sunny with light to moderate winds.
Thursday will bring moderate to strong west winds and a few centimetres new snow.
Friday will by sunny again with moderate NW ridgetop winds.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Steady westerly winds over the last week have created small windslabs in alpine terrain. These are not widespread but could easily catch someone by surprise if they are not watching for them.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5