Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Nov 28 – 29, 2015Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

The temperature inversion continues with very warm alpine temperatures on Saturday and Sunday. Ice climbers in particular should expect solar triggered snowballing and sluffing out of steep rocky South facing terrain during the heat of the day.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Small wind slabs are possible in isolated locations, perhaps providing a surprise during otherwise good conditions. The main concern is for terrain traps (above cliffs, gullies) where small avalanches have bigger consequences.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    With alpine temperatures only dropping a little below freezing overnight, we expect to see an increase in solar triggered sluffing on Saturday and Sunday.

Weather Forecast

Clear conditions with light winds and very warm alpine temperatures are forecast for Saturday with alpine temperatures remaining near freezing for Saturday night. In sheltered sunny locations temperatures will get well above freezing during the middle of the day. A temperature inversion will keep the valley bottoms cool.

Snowpack Summary

Sun crust forming on sheltered solar aspects. Below treeline the snowpack has set up well and is slowly facetting. In open areas at tree line and above there are numerous wind slabs of varying depth. Isolated wind slabs over facets typical of the Rockies can still be expected in thin areas.

Avalanche Summary

Some small solar triggered sluffs to size 1 observed on Friday. One older size 3 natural avalanche was also observed on the White Pyramid Glacier. This appears to have slid during the last major wind event a few days ago. In places it stepped down to glacier ice showing that on high North aspects there can be a basal weak layer to keep in mind.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Regions covered