Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 9th, 2017 4:00PM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is below threshold. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

stephen holeczi, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Winter is on, people are skiing, and many ice climbs are now in. Isolated wind slabs are the only problem currently, but remember a small slide can have big consequences, especially in climbing terrain. SH

Summary

Weather Forecast

Starting tonight, some light snow (3-5cm in the E portion and 10cm towards the divide ) is possible with light to mod. SW winds. Temperatures will stay below freezing but its warmer than it has been this past week!

Snowpack Summary

An average of 30-50 cm of snow at treeline with up to 100 cm in alpine locations. A crust formed prior to Halloween is down 10-15 cm helping provide support for skiers. This crust disappears on N aspects around 2500m. Previous alpine winds have created pockets of wind slab. On glaciers be wary of the ice-snow interface and check it for instability.

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanche activity has been observed or reported over the last couple days.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Problems

Wind Slabs

This is a typical early winter avalanche problem that exists in isolated pockets where the snow has drifted into small wind slabs and the slope is steep enough to slide. Mainly a concern for ice climbers in steep gullies or walking above cliffs.

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

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Nov 10th, 2017 4:00PM