Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
A significant storm is forecast to hit the area on Friday. Pay attention to the rising avalanche danger
Weather Forecast
Flurries with light accumulations and freezing levels near valley bottom forecasted for Thursday. A significant storm is forecasted for Thursday night through Friday with accumulations of 30-40 cm of snow at treeline, high winds, and freezing levels rising to 1600 m. An avalanche cycle is expected on Friday.
Snowpack Summary
35-45 cm of unconsolidated snow exist at treeline elevations throughout the forecast area. A 5mm layer of surface hoar that was reported in some areas has been buried by several cm of new snow today (November 11 surface hoar). Some soft wind slabs exist at higher alpine elevations.
Avalanche Summary
Over the past five days slabs and loose snow avalanches (up to sixe 2.5) have been triggered and are running naturally from alpine features. Yesterday at Bow Summit a size 1.5 avalanche was remotely triggered on the ground, and on the Wapta a group remotely triggered a size 2 on Mt. Olive.
Confidence
Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Friday
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.