Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Oct 1st, 2019–Oct 2nd, 2019

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

Little Yoho.

Winter has arrived. Recent cold temperatures and snowfall has quickly changed the mountains from summer into winter - almost no autumn season! Alpine areas have enough snow to produce avalanches and early season keeners should be prepared.

Weather Forecast

Check Environment Canada for updates to the Banff and Yoho National Park forecast. Long-term (10 day) models are showing more snow every few days for the first part of October. Expect a few nice days, then some snow, then nice again. Temperatures are look like they will remain cool.

Snowpack Summary

The giant upslope storm that hit Alberta at the end of September did not hit Banff Park as hard. As of October 1 there is 15 cm on the ground at treeline Sunshine Village and Mt. Bosworth. Expect drifted areas on the Wapta Icefields of up to 100 cm in leeward areas. Winds will be moving snow and creating windslabs in leeward areas in the alpine.

Avalanche Summary

Small windslabs have been reported in alpine areas, but no significant natural avalanches have been observed yet. Expect this to change and avalanche activity to increase as October progresses.

Confidence

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.