Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 2nd, 2016 4:00PM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Loose Dry.

tim haggarty, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Although things seem pretty stable out there, watch for triggering isolated hard windslabs and manage your exposure to loose dry sluffs while traveling in the alpine. Watch for hazard to increase depending on how much snow materializes by late Sunday

Summary

Weather Forecast

The remains of a low that hit the N coast is making its way to the divide over the next 24-36 hours. We have already seen the blue skies disappear, light snowfall begin closer to the divide, and SW winds arrive. Up to 20 cm of snow is expected with mild temperatures and W winds before an arctic ridge builds Sunday night and winter really arrives.Â

Snowpack Summary

A 70 to 100cm snowpack exists above treeline in most areas. The surface snow is faceting: weakening with cold temperatures. A mid pack crust is allowing the snowpack to carry travelers fairly well except in shallow areas. We are watching for this crust to weaken but it is not producing avalanches yet. Isolated wind slabs exist above treeline.

Avalanche Summary

The SW winds were blowing hard on the alpine ridges this morning. While only minor amounts of snow remain available for the winds to transport, surface faceting has weakened the snow in the alpine lee areas and we witnessed a couple of size 1.5 loose dry avalanches sluff off the steep lee terrain below the summit ridge on Mt Cascade.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Problems

Loose Dry

Weakening of the surface snow has allowed the wind to easily trigger these sluffs in the lee of alpine ridges in very steep terrain. Climbers and skiers that are pushing into terrain that could be affected by these events should keep them in mind.

Be very cautious with gully features.Use caution above cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 3rd, 2016 4:00PM