Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Nov 25th, 2015–Nov 26th, 2015

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

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

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

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Looks like a beautiful few days ahead, with clear skies and gradually warming temperatures. Expect a significant warm up for the weekend, with freezing levels to 2500 m on Saturday and valley bottom temperatures climbing above zero.

Weather Forecast

High pressure dominates for the next few days, but with an accompanying deep freeze. Starting Wed at noon, warmer air began to overrun the cold air in the valley bottoms and a classic inversion (warmer air aloft) situation is establishing. Thursday remains cool (-5 to -15), but a big warm up starts on Fri with freezing levels reaching 2500m on Sat.

Snowpack Summary

10 cm of snow from Monday night has been blown into small windslabs up to 20 cm deep in isolated areas leeward to the north winds. Otherwise, the snowpack is relatively well settled for November in the Rockies, with no persistent weak layers (yet). However, we expect the facetting process to be well underway this week in areas of shallow snow.

Avalanche Summary

Other than small, isolated surface slabs up to size 1 reported by the ski area avalanche control teams, we have observed no fresh avalanches in the last 72 hours. However, we have no observations from high alpine, glaciated terrain so remain slightly uncertain about this kind of terrain.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Small windslabs 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.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2